Parish audit issues clean opinion; auditors flag minor compliance findings tied to budgets and late filing

Auditor Amy Ferburn of CRI presented the parish's fiscal‑year audit. She told the council the auditor issued an unmodified (clean) opinion and found no major control issues. Two minor compliance deficiencies were called out: certain special revenue funds had budget variances that exceeded state thresholds, and a technical late‑filing finding was recorded because the report required by statute is due June 30 even if submitted under an approved extension.

Ferburn said the single‑audit work for major federal programs — including FEMA and the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Program — did not produce control or compliance findings. She highlighted increased capital outlays driven by hurricane recovery projects and road and drainage work, explained changes in restricted fund balances, and said the parish received the GFOA certificate of achievement for financial reporting for the 28th consecutive year.

Council members asked clarifying questions about fund‑balance requirements and the likely effect of reassessments on property‑tax revenues. Ferburn and finance staff said the parish's unassigned fund balance and budget‑management practices remain sound and that the audit findings reflect technical or narrowly scoped compliance items rather than material deficiencies.