Finance committee accepts external audit, finds no current-year findings

The Caddo Parish Commission Finance Committee voted to accept the parish's annual external audit and the annual comprehensive financial report. The committee approved both documents on a voice vote with no members recorded as opposed; the meeting transcript does not specify an exact vote tally.

Chair directed committee members to the audit documents and the financial-statement findings, saying, "If you go to page 10, you'll see financial statements findings. Section 2 is financial statements findings. Current year findings and responses, none noted," and noting prior-year findings were also listed as none. Finance staff member Stephanie told the committee, "It was a perfectly, it was a perfect audit. Everything's great." She also said a bookkeeping issue involving Fire District 5 had been cleared up.

Mr. Kirk introduced the agenda item as the committee's opportunity to receive information about and respond to the external audit and comprehensive financial report. Chair asked finance whether any items required special attention; Stephanie replied there were no current-year findings and credited Hailey and the finance team for their work.

Commissioner Coughlin moved to accept the external audit and the annual comprehensive financial report; the motion was seconded and the Chair called for the ayes. The Chair said, "All in favor, please say aye," and, after the response, announced that the audit and the financial report had both been reviewed and accepted by the committee.

The committee asked staff to relay its compliments to Hailey and the finance team for the audit results. No further action on the audit was recorded during the meeting.