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Audit finds Town of Washington operating with inadequate funds

Posted at 8:51 AM, Mar 04, 2019
and last updated 2019-03-04 09:51:15-05

An independent auditor has expressed concern about whether the Town of Washington in St. Landry Parish will be able to continue operating.

An audit found that as of September 17, 2018, the town had past-due liabilities totaling $468,000.  Those liabilities include amounts due to various agencies for fines collected – $232,000; lawsuits payable – $49,000; General
Fund payables – $118,000; and Utility Fund payables – $69,000. The audit found that current available assets for the town are estimated at $150,000.

The Town has had deficits for the past few years and is projected to run deficits in the next fiscal year, according to the report.

To mitigate the conditions, officials have reportedly cut expenses, including salaries and benefits, hired police officers to try to generate more traffic fine revenue, and hired a third-party company to collect past-due fines.

Read the full financial report and audit below: