Audit find issues with government vehicle use with St. Bernard officials

(The Center Square) — A state audit has revealed that two former high-ranking officials in St. Bernard parish government received vehicle allowances while simultaneously using government-owned vehicles and charging fuel costs to public funds.One former official was paid a $1,600 monthly vehicle allowance through 2023, totaling $19,200, even as they continued to drive a government-owned vehicle. During the same time, they also billed the parish $3,614 for fuel, the audit found.Another former official received a vehicle allowance of $843 per month between July 2022 and June 2023, amounting to $10,116. Like the first, they also drove a government vehicle and had the parish pay $1,364 in fuel charges.The Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office said these dual benefits may violate both state law and the Louisiana Constitution, which bars public entities from making donations of public funds.The audit also flagged a troubling incident during the parish’s 2023 Christmas party, where one of the former officials accepted a pickup from a longtime parish vendor. The report did not name the vendor but noted the gift raised serious ethical concerns.In a separate finding, auditors said the parish waived or discounted $47,400 in rental fees for government-owned facilities between July 2022 and October 2023. One of the former officials is reported to have personally signed off on or authorized $38,825 of those waived fees. The audit further cited one case in which the parish failed to collect fees on time from a government employee.The report suggests these actions may have violated local ordinances, state statutes, and the constitutional ban on public fund donations.In a written response to the audit, the current parish administration said it would seek legal counsel regarding “recovery of any potential duplicate benefits” and pledged to implement reforms to prevent future violations.”This administration shall implement a policy prohibiting personal vehicle allowances other than reimbursable mileage so as to prevent any potential duplication of benefits in the future,” the statement said.The administration also said it is reviewing facility rental policies and will enforce fee collection, implement disciplinary procedures for unauthorized discounts, and enhance public employee awareness around the proper use of public funds.”Our internal auditors and finance department have implemented best practices as recommended by your office to increase internal controls and ensure that funds are collected timely on all rental contracts,” the parish stated.