Auditors give Lincoln Parish Schools a clean opinion; general fund shows $28.9 million unassigned balance

An external audit of Lincoln Parish Schools’ fiscal year 2025 financials resulted in an unmodified opinion, auditor Amy Tynes of Allen Green Williamson told the Roosevelt Fair School Board on May 5.

"We issued an unmodified opinion, which means there's no modifications to the report," Tynes said, characterizing the audit as a clean opinion. She said the financial statements were presented fairly and that the district’s financial information was materially correct.

Tynes highlighted several key figures: an unassigned general fund balance of about $28,900,000 (roughly 42% of expenditures), general fund revenues of $70,900,000 for the fiscal year and expenditures of $68,500,000, which produced a $2.3 million surplus before transfers. After transfers in and out, she said the district’s fund balance increased by approximately $7,000,000.

The auditors discussed bond activity and nonmajor governmental funds, noting that approximately $12.9 million remained from the 2024 Ruston bond and that nonmajor governmental funds collectively held about $39,500,000. Tynes also reported $16,000,000 in federal awards received during the year and said auditors found no findings related to federal programs tested, including special education and Title I.

Tynes pointed to one state agreed-upon procedure comment related to credit-card controls and noted a BESI PEP reporting mismatch where reported extra compensation did not match state submission (the dollar amounts were correct). She said the district will face a larger set of state procedures for FY26 testing.

The board did not receive any findings that would require corrective action for federal programs or material internal-control weaknesses in the financial statement audit. Tynes invited board members and staff to follow up with her for any questions after the meeting.