Auditor: Terrebonne school district realized a profit in 2006

The Terrebonne Parish School District made money in 2006, with an increase of $28.8 million in revenues over 2005, according to an audit prepared by Lanaux and Felger, a Houma-based CPA firm.

The post-2005 hurricane recovery created a cash influx in the parish, enhancing the parish’s coffers.

Some of the school system’s cash increase were realized in the following areas:

• Ad valorem (property taxes): $4.482 million in 2006; $4.254 million in 2005; an increase of $227,782.

• Sales taxes: $46.452 million in 2006; $36.696 in 2005; an increase of $9.757 million.

• Rentals, leases and royalties: $3.637 million in 2006; $1.217 million in 2005; an increase of $2.419 million.

• Earnings on investments: $1.078 million in 2006; $477,838 in 2005; an increase of $600,522.

• Other local funding: $2.732 million in 2006; $785, 797 in 2005; an increase of $1.946 million.

Another chunk of the raise in the board’s coffers includes a $5.108 million increase from the state Department of Education to educate a hike in enrollment caused by students from storm-ravaged communities seeking schooling in Terrebonne Parish.

The detailed audit also lists school activity accounts and the balances for each of the board’s respective schools.

Each school must account for monies generated by activities and, at the secondary level, athletic and stadium maintenance accounts.

The accounting records are maintained at each facility under the supervision of the school principal. Year-end statements of receipts and disbursements are prepared by the school administrator and transmitted to the assistant superintendent of Administration and Statistics, according to the audit.

Each school activity account monitors proceeds expended for a variety of activities such as sales of concessions, student pictures, student club activities and various other expenditures for instructional and school operating supplies.

Athletic accounts monitor revenues and expenditures related to various athletic programs, including the costs of equipment, supplies and services required in the program.

Stadium maintenance accounts monitor costs of operation and maintenance of athletic facilities. School that use stadiums are charged a pro-rated facility-use fee based on the number of events held in the facility and the direct cost of custodial services.

The audit did not include copies of a checks-and-balance system of these funds at each school. However, it did include the ending fund balances for 2005-06 versus the 2004-05 fiscal year, at each school. They are:

• Acadian – $60,171 in 2006; $35,901 in 2005.

• Bayou Black – $16,201 in 2006; $16,101 in 2005.

• Bayou Cane n Adult Education – $20,669 in 2006; $19,753 in 2005.

• Boudreaux Canal – $18,766 in 2006; $13, 952 in 2005.

• Bourg – $55,382 in 2006; $38,939 in 2005.

• H.L. Bourgeois – $263,005 in 2006; $188,922 in 2005.

• Broadmoor – $116,277 in 2006; $88,783 in 2005.

• Caldwell – $61,848 in 2006; $56,852 in 2005.

• Coteau Bayou Blue – $89,710 in 2006; $70,651 in 2005.

• Dularge Elementary – $35,687 in 2006; $28,678 in 2005.

• Dularge Middle – $57,830 in 2006; $49,905 in 2005.

• East Houma – $37,616 in 2006; $26,871 in 2005.

•†East Street – $706 in 2006; $418 in 2005.

• Ellender Memorial High – $170,266 in 2006; $96,751 in 2005.

• Elysian Fields – $17,582 in 2006; $13,827 in 2005.

• Evergreen Jr. High – $210,442 in 2006; $163,492 in 2005.

• Gibson – $5,911 in 2006; $5,905 in 2005.

• Grand Caillou Elementary – $88,953 in 2006; $33,433 in 2005.

• Grand Caillou Middle – $32,832 in 2006; $12,184 in 2005.

• Greenwood – $7,432 in 2006; $2,466 in 2005.

• Honduras – $51,332 in 2006; $35,626 in 2005.

• Houma Jr. High – $63,075 in 2006; $43,339 in 2005.

• Lacache – $63,046 in 2006; $56,039 in 2005.

• Legion Park n $23,182 in 2006; $20,542 in 2005.

• Lisa Park – $35,635 in 2006; $15,887 in 2005.

• Little Caillou n $17,468 in 2006; $15,814 in 2005.

• Montegut Elementary – $14, 644 in 2006; $13, 261 in 2005.

• Montegut Middle – $65,648 in 2006; $43,164 in 2005.

• Mulberry – $58,464 in 2006; $47,276 in 2005.

• Oaklawn Jr. High – $52,805 in 2006; $39,955 in 2005.

• Oakshire – $62,976 in 2006; $28,526 in 2005.

• Pointe-Aux-Chenes – $20, 769 in 2006; $14,410 in 2005.

• Andrew Price – $3,717 in 2006; $1,847 in 2005.

• School for Exceptional Children – $73,881 in 2006; $76,094 in 2005.

• Schriever – $75,335 in 2006; $61,832 in 2005.

• Southdown – $22,719 in 2006; $8,861 in 2005.

• South Terrebonne High – $296,680 in 2006; $204,259 in 2005.

• Terrebonne High – $365,314 in 2006; $240,427 in 2005.

• Upper Little Caillou – $48,383 in 2006; 439,489 in 2005.

• Village East – $39,443 in 2006; $29,536 in 2005.

• Vocational Technical High – $25,441 in 2006; $19, 109 in 2005.

• West Park – $13,255 in 2006; $13,905 in 2005.

The amounts above represented balances at the end of June 2006, and June 2005.

Auditor Thomas Lanaux indicates within the report that the Terrebonne Parish School Board is at “low-risk” for an audit, and that no discrepancies were found throughout Lanaux and Felger’s audit.