Louisiana Legislative Auditor
Daryl G. Purpera, CPA, CFE

June 13, 2016

More Than $5,600 in Property Tax and Utility Service Payments Missing in Bogalusa

An investigative audit into missing funds in Bogalusa found that between September 2015 and February 2016, $5,612 in property tax and utility service payments were received but not deposited into the city’s bank accounts, the Legislative Auditor said in a report released today.

City officials began an investigation after money was discovered missing from the utility collections fund. Their investigation also found that some property tax payments appeared to have been received but not deposited. City police turned the investigation over to the Louisiana State Police, who asked the Legislative Auditor’s office to review the City’s tax records, the state auditor said.

Auditors found that a former water clerk was primarily responsible for receiving, recording, and processing 89% ($5,006) of the missing funds during the time period in question. The auditors’ review further showed that the former clerk altered City records to conceal that property tax payments were collected but not deposited.

The former clerk denied taking any of the missing money.

As of the date of the audit, the City had not taken any action to recover the missing funds, and no charges had been filed against the former clerk.

For more information contact:

Legislative Auditor
225.339.3800



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Office of the Louisiana Legislative Auditor | www.LLA.La.gov