By JIM BUTLER

Legislative Auditor reports have been recently filed assessing operations of two local governmental law enforcement entities.

Alexandria City Court

Alexandria City Court has the same problem as most small government entities – not enough staff to properly separate accounting functions and checks and balances. 

Auditors noted the lack of segregation of duties in their report for the year ending last Sept. 30. Completed in March 2023, the report was released this month. 

Judge Richard Starling Jr. acknowledges the finding in his response, but says the benefits of adding personnel don’t outweigh the costs. 

The court’s General Fund revenue was $253,900; expenses were $186,000. 

The Fiduciary Fund (held for designated purposes, such as garnishment, etc.) totaled $2.14 million. 

Starling’s salary, paid by state, parish and city, was $164,879. Other compensation, according to auditors, was health insurance, $25,069; seminar registration, $1,075; and seminar travel, $4,370. 

Pineville City Marshal

Marshal Murphy Rachal’s office collected $165,000 in the year ending December 31, 2022 and spent $173,600, according to the review of financial statements completed May 30 and released this month.  

That shortfall dropped the agency’s net position to $239,600, which includes $5,900 in capital asset depreciation. 

Rachal’s compensation totaled $122,412, according to the review – $50,204 in salary and $2,642 in retirement contribution by the city, $14,066 by the parish and $55,600 from service fees.