Louisiana Legislative Auditor
Daryl G. Purpera, CPA, CFE

November 17, 2014

Central Louisiana Technical Community College

Officials at the six-campus Central Louisiana Technical Community College failed to accurately prepare the 2013 annual fiscal report and had to hire an outside accounting firm for $9,000 to correct a number of errors in the original version, a report released Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera’s office said.

The financial statement audit said the college’s annual financial report for 2013, which was filed late, overstated cash by almost $354,000. “As of June 30, 2013, the college had not reconciled its bank accounts since February 2013,” the report by the state auditor said. “Bank accounts for fiscal year 2013 were not reconciled until July 2014.”

The report also said that tuition and fees were overstated by $2.3 million, and scholarship and fellowship expenses were overstated by approximately $2.5 million.

“These errors resulted from inaccurate information provided by the college’s accounting staff to the CPA compiling the financial statements,” auditors wrote. “The college’s accounting personnel did not have the required knowledge to accurately complete the AFR and were unfamiliar with basic financial controls” as well as a new accounting system.

The report recommended college officials provide training in accounting procedures and the new accounting system to its personnel, “assign a knowledgeable person to review the financial information and ensure that accounts are reconciled timely.” Officials of the school agreed with the findings.

The college reported that its net position decreased by 113.6 percent, or from roughly a deficit of $1.43 million to a deficit of $3.05 million between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013. Some of the reasons provided by the college for the decline include reductions in state and federal funding, a decline in “auxiliary revenues” from the closure of bookstores, a cut in programs, increases in fees and tuitions, and an increase in liabilities due to some post-employment benefits.

The college operates campuses in Alexandria, Leesville, Cottonport, Oakdale, Winnfield and Ferriday, as well as training programs at five correctional centers and one state penitentiary.

The college reported that enrollment declined from 5,704 to 5,476 between July 1, 2012 and June 30, 2013 “The reason for this change is attributed to an increase in tuition and fee rates and a reduction in program offerings,” according to the report.

CLTCC 2014 Release.pdf

For more information contact:

Legislative Auditor
225.339.3800



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