Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Audit topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Bernard Parish schools receive draft clean audit; issuance delayed pending federal supplement
Summary
Independent auditors presented a draft 2024–25 comprehensive annual financial report, reporting an anticipated clean opinion and a governmental fund balance near $103 million; formal issuance of the single-audit portion is delayed until the OMB compliance supplement is released.
Independent auditors from Erickson Crentel told the Saint Bernard Parish School Board on Nov. 18 that the district’s draft 2024–25 comprehensive annual financial report is in good shape but remains in draft form because the federal OMB compliance supplement used for single-audit procedures has not yet been issued.
Jeremy Thibodeau and Ali Clore, who performed the audit, said their work on the June 30, 2025, financial statements is complete and that they anticipate clean opinions for the financial-statement audit and for the single-audit portion once the compliance supplement is issued. They explained current professional standards prevent issuing the single-audit report without that supplement and that the firm will reassess in mid‑December whether to issue the financial-statement audit separately.
The auditors summarized high-level results: total governmental fund assets of just under $126 million, liabilities near $22.5 million, and a resulting fund balance of about $103 million — an increase of roughly $2.4 million from the prior year. They said revenues and expenses both decreased year over year, noting the lapse of ESSER funding as a factor; the auditors reported no internal-control deficiencies or instances of noncompliance in tested federal-award programs based on the draft procedures they performed.
The presentation also covered agreed‑upon procedures (AUPs) required by the Louisiana Department of Education and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor; the district had no exceptions on these procedures for the current year. Auditors noted some estimates used in the financial statements — collectability of receivables, depreciation, pension and OPEB valuations — and stated disclosures and required supplemental information appeared appropriate.
Board members responded with thanks and recognition of the business department’s work, noting more than 30 consecutive years of achievement awards for financial reporting. The board did not request further audit findings during the meeting; auditors and district staff said they will obtain required management representations and finalize forms once federal guidance allows formal issuance.
