The first half of yesterday’s meeting of Jonesboro’s Board of Alderman was taken up by a report by J. Walker & Company’s Jonald Walker III, and his failed attempts to audit the town’s books. The meeting was delayed about 20 minutes from the scheduled Noon time, due to lack of a quorum. Finally, District C’s Charla Mason-Melton joined Alderman-at-large LaStevic Cottonham and District D’s Devin Flower, to allow the meeting to begin.
Walker explained that as an independent auditor, he could only offer an opinion on the town’s finances as presented to him, and could not act as the town’s accountant. He noted that the FY 2011-2012 time period he was examined was rife with inaccurate journal entries, and that many questions he had of the staff as to how a number was arrived at could not be answered.
Walker said that in order to have an accurate opinion, you have to have accurate numbers.
Said Walker, “If you’re not even willing to make your opening balances right, how do we get to the ending numbers to render an opinion.”
However, Walker did say that the personnel now employed by the town may have a better grasp of their duties than those formerly employed.
In other business, the board introduced the FY 2013-2014 proposed General Fund and Enterprise Fund (water, sewer) budgets. As we noted in our news story yesterday, a public hearing is set for 6/25/13, 5:30 PM.
The board also approved an amendment for the original 2012-2013 Enterprise Fund, but not without a bit of discussion.
As has been the case for nearly every Jonesboro meeting that we have covered for the past three years, none of the council had seen the budgetary documents prior to the meeting. Nor had the Enterprise Fund Amendment been reviewed at a public hearing, as is required by the Louisiana Local Government Budget Act (LLGBA).
But, as we learned last week, the town’s controversial mayor Leslie Thompson says he can pick which laws to obey.
This must be one of those unnecessary laws.
Mason-Melton noted that she had not seen the amendment, and that some of the department heads also had no input for the changes.
Asked Mason-Melton, “Why wasn’t this included in our packet that we had delivered, so we could look over it?”
Mayor Thompson replied that they had just completed the amendment earlier in the day.
“Mayor, if Shaky (Water Department Head “Shaky” Green) hasn’t had the opportunity to look at it, what is the need to do it now?” Mason-Melton also asked. “We only got it today,” she added.
Finally, after more discussion, Flowers made the motion, with Mason-Melton seconding. It passed unanimously.
During the discussion mayor Thompson said it may be necessary to raise water rates to cover possible budget shortfalls.
Lincoln Parish News Online 
05/23/2013 at 3:03 pm |
Well – that’s just more $ for “someone(s)” to hide and put in their pockets. Use the $2.00 fee we pay each month for this since we don’t have a police force anymore – AND the money they have saved from the police people they terminated – what has that $ helped?? My Lord – why can’t we just have a vote to dis-band this town. It can’t be worse!!
05/23/2013 at 5:00 pm |
District C its a shame that your Council woman is such a Team Player. Why ask question if youre going to go along from the start. Mason i thought you were a better person than this.
05/23/2013 at 8:05 pm |
It’s all a big front. They are taking orders from their leader. She and Cottonham act like they are concerned and ask questions sometime to make it look like they care. That’s bull crap! They don’t care what the people in their district want. They do what they are told. They are puppets and aren’t capable of thinking on their own. Pull them strings puppetmaster. Newsflash – there may be someone working in the town hall that is undercover. You will all be surprised when the truth comes out and it’s going to be very soon.
05/23/2013 at 8:22 pm |
The CTIC seems to forget about the water bills that aren’t being paid when he proposes raising rates. That is a good display of his limited supervisory skills (or is he willing to let the bills that are not being collected go uncollected because he is taking care of some of his friends). Before any raises in rates take place, let’s mend the problem that currently exists. (1) collect the uncollected and (2) get that turd out of office and in jail.
05/23/2013 at 11:05 pm |
another failed audit. how many in a row does that make?. does anyone keep records on that? and yet some think he is still doing a good job….get your head out of your butt..
05/24/2013 at 2:15 am |
Amazing healthcare increasing system
05/24/2013 at 10:38 pm |
Let’s have a special meeting next week….Deputy Rev. David Dill needs a pay raise
05/25/2013 at 10:52 pm |
You mean raise the water rates to pay for his doubled salary! Correct??
05/26/2013 at 4:36 pm |
The mayor didn’t say that the main reason for the “possible budget shortfalls” that may cause water rates to go up is the fact that his salary was doubled. Notice the three council members that voted for the raise didn’t mention that, either.
05/28/2013 at 10:28 am |
I would like to see an audit finished that says that the town has money for raises.I would like to see an audit that says anything. I can understand the mayor wanting a big raise after showing his ability to be mayor nobody will give him a job when he gets out of jail .
05/28/2013 at 12:39 pm |
can the pension of retired military personnel be interupted or declined if they are found guilty of a felony?
05/30/2013 at 3:26 am |
I hear that immature little lestevic cottonham got arrested. Hope that nursing school don’t find out about that. Ha ha. Leslie arrested, lestevic arrested. Who will be next. I’m just thinking.
05/30/2013 at 7:15 am |
It is LaStevic….and go ahead tell what you think you know
05/30/2013 at 3:35 pm |
Don’t mess with real people doing their job you might get arrested .Oh wait you will get arrested . $10,000 bond don’t worry leslie will pay it with his raise money he wont forget you.
06/01/2013 at 2:57 pm |
You wish. They will find some way to get it out of town funds.