Answer

Response #1) No, you cannot trade the vest for the lights. A public entity cannot trade publicly owned equipment to reimburse a debt owed to a public employee. Publicly owned equipment is subject to surplus property laws. Response #2) If it is surplus property, they must surplus it according to the surplus property laws. Attached is an Ethics opinion (2011-461) regarding who can bid on surplus property auctions, or more properly, who cannot bid. It is recommended for the entity to get guidance from Ethics. However, the opinion only prevents current employees from bidding on surplus property items at an auction. It does not seem to prevent former employees from bidding unless during their employment they were in charge of those items that were put up for auction. In conclusion, it appears that he could bid on the vest if he had nothing to do with the decision to surplus property. Louisiana Legislative Auditor website: 06/12/2025 04:25:55 AM