Council debates funding for marshals office after officials say audits are missing

Bastrop — Several council members expressed concern about an increased line item for the marshals office and asked the marshals to submit revenue and expenditure statements before the council approves further increases.

The council recalled conversations with state officials and legal counsel about whether municipalities must fund a marshals office that has not filed required audits. The city attorney told the council that under current Louisiana law the city remains obligated to provide ordinary and reasonable operating expenses for a marshal’s office even if the office has not timely submitted audit reports; however, the attorney noted delinquent audits can make a marshals office ineligible for state grants and other outside funding.

Council members said the city has already paid many of the ordinary expenses the law requires (salary, benefits, utilities) and asked the marshals office to provide a simple financial statement showing income and expenses so the council can evaluate the requested increase in the upcoming budgets. One council member urged that if the marshals cannot justify the increased request, the council should revert to a lower, baseline amount and require the marshal’s office to return with documentation for any supplemental request.

Administration said the recommended increase in the marshals line was a projection based on current year spending and a consolidated accounting exercise; the administration agreed to produce the invoices and any affidavit or documentation the marshal’s office should have filed so the council can review them in finance.

What happens next: The council directed administration to request and circulate to councilmembers the marshals office’s supporting financial documentation and to include the item in the Q1 review. Councilmembers said they will consider reducing the appropriation to a baseline if adequate documentation is not presented.