Parish gets kudos from audit firm

Donna Alonzo

A healthy audit report on the Choctaw Road Landfill and Washington Parish Government from Wilson LaGraize of Kushner LaGraize, LLC was certainly good news for members of the parish council, but the best was yet to come.

LaGraize, presenting his firm’s audit report to the council, told them that a year ago the parish was cutting it close, with a minimal amount of funds on-hand but, he said, there was a dramatic improvement this year, despite the economy.

LaGraize noted parish government had taken an aggressive approach toward managing expenses during a period when revenues were down.

LaGraize specifically cited auditor Donna Alonzo and pointed out Alonzo renegotiated the parish’s insurance coverage, resulting in a savings of $800,000.

After the meeting, Alonzo said the parish’s new policy is with United Health Care, the carrier for the Louisiana Police Jury Association. She said by making the change, the parish realized savings of 45 percent.

“I don’t know what we would have done (without the savings),” she said. “We couldn’t have balanced the budget otherwise.”

In other action:

   • Council held a public hearing and voted to accept roads in Riverwood Subdivision into the parish road inventory.

   • Introduced a resolution allowing Tommy Thiebaud to enter into a contract with the Louisiana Department of Social Services for the purpose of providing job access and reverse commute transportation services.

   • Introduced a resolution approving the holding of an election in Fire District No. 6 on Saturday, Oct. 22. to authorize the levy of a special tax.

The next council meeting will be Monday July 11.