Audit finds numerous issues with previous administration in Bogalusa

(The Center Square) – A recent audit uncovered widespread misuse of taxpayer funds by officials in a Lousiana city.

Legislative Auditor Mike Waguespack's office found Bogalusa improperly paid more than $468,000 in bonuses from American Rescue Plan funds; didn't adopt budgets in fiscal years 2023 and 2024; violated the city's charter with hiring and procurement practices; and donated taxpayer funds to five organizations without proper documentation.

The audit also flagged other issues.

The city didn't pay its contribution to the Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System in fiscal 2023, requiring an additional interest payment of $6,232.

According to the response from the city, the issues occurred during the time of former Mayor Wendy O'Quin Perrette. Mayor Tyrin Truong said in the letter that "we will correct the previous administration's deficiencies; however, we will not accept responsibility for their causation."

Truong also said in the city's response that the Bogalusa has revised many of the policies and procedures mentioned in the auditor's report.

The audit also found the city issued more than $368,000 in improper payments to employees for unused vacation and sick leave hours and might have violated state procurement law with an award for mosquito control services.

Other issues uncovered by the audit included violations of state records law, misclassification of city workers as independent contractors, delinquent utility accounts, a city vehicle not marked in accordance with state law and noncompliance with a 2019 fiscal review plan imposed on the city by the Louisiana Fiscal Review Committee.

Among the violations of the city's charter, auditors said the administration failed to submit contracts to the council for approval, failed to obtain council approval for directors' salaries and the dissolution of commissions created by the council without council action.

The report also said the city paid some employees $20,686 in overtime for hours not worked, a violation of the state constitution.

According to the audit, the city contracted with O&R Services and Supplies for mosquito control services beginning in July 2023. The report says O&R member Virgil Rayford Jr. submitted false documentation to the city that included a certificate of liability insurance and a certification that his company could do the contract work. The company was paid $6,088, but no services were performed.

The report also said Truong entered into a five-year lease for a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe. Auditors witnessed that the city-supplied vehicle had no decals or other identification as city property in possible violation of state law.