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Parish Government’s audit gets high marks

Karl D. Jeter karl.jeter@techetoday.com

Auditor Charles “Chip” Maraist delivered his annual audit report to the St. Martin Parish council at the Aug. 15 meeting and said his research revealed that parish finances are very sound, especially in light of poor economic conditions currently prevalent in the area.
Maraist said the parish has managed to maintain 98 percent of its revenue stream, despite a drop of about 25 percent in sales tax receipts. That is partly due to the fact that the parish derives only about 10 percent of revenues from sales tax collections.
The current asset position (the ratio of short-term liabilities to cash on hand), he said, indicates a healthy financial position. The parish could satisfy its obligations for a period of up to 18 months if all revenues stopped. This is an unusually sound position, especially in the current economy, Maraist noted.
“No government on the Gulf Coast is maintaining a perfect position now, but St. Martin Parish is doing a hell of a lot better than most,” he told Parish President Guy Cormier and Parish Council members, adding “The parish’s position may not be as good as in some recent years, but you have maintained your position well.”
Cormier credited the entire roster of parish employees for the success. “Everyone from the council and members of the administration to the local workers have been watching costs,” he said.

In other business, the council voted to award the contract for improvements at Cade Park to the low bidder, Acadienne Renovations Ltd. Upgrades will include a splash pad, baseball field and concession stand. The low bid of $1.55 million is $132,000 below the budgeted figure and was the only one of four bids received that was below budget.

Flooding Recalled
In his parish president’s report, Cormier pointed out that at this meeting one year ago, the parish had just experienced the record August rainfall. As much as 31 inches fell in two days, causing substantial flooding in many areas.
Cormier said much has been done in response to the disaster. With federal, state and local funding, work will continue for several years to avoid a repeat. “However,” he added, “There is no ‘fix’ for 31 inches of rainfall.” The silver lining to the crisis, he said, is the successful development of an eight-parish regional authority to “get ahead” of the drainage issue on a cooperative basis.
He announced that a project will soon begin to improve drainage in the Bridgetown subdivision, east of Doyle Melancon Road near Breaux Bridge. Bridgetown was one of the hardest hit areas to experience flash flooding, as opposed to the backwater flooding that caused the inundation of most other flooded areas. About 80 percent of homes in Bridgetown were affected.
The parish applied for funding from the Hurricane Gustav/Ike mitigation grant and will receive $1.7 million for the Bridgetown project and will supplement that sum with funds from the drainage/recreation bond passed last December.
Finally, the council went into executive (secret) session to discuss pending litigation concerning its refusal last year to grant a zoning variance to Breaux Bridge Land Investment LLC. The firm is seeking to reopen a truck stop casino on Mills Avenue near the St, Martin/Lafayette Parish line.
Legal Advisor Chester Cedars said the parish will “continue to vigorously defend the sovereign authority of St. Martin Parish to enforce its zoning laws.”

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