By JIM BUTLER

The Rapides District Attorney’s office had an unassigned General Fund balance of $1.2 million as 2022 closed, according to an audit report released this month.

The office of DA J. Phillip Terrell Jr. had revenues of $6.1 million and expenses of $5.6 million. The operating surplus was added to a $628,000 fund balance on hand as the year began.

The audit notes that $703,000 in revenue was Title IV-D income, all of which went to statutory requirements – support enforcement, locating absent parents, establishing paternity, and obtaining family and child support.

The General Fund had $3.5 million intergovernmental income and $1.9 million from fees, commissions and fines.

Auditors are required to include compensation of the agency head. According to the report, Terrell’s base pay was $209,278. Assorted fringe benefits raised the total to about $248,000.

Auditors found no material weaknesses in the office’s accounting other than noting inadequate segregation of duties.

The DA response was that while recognizing the principles involved benefits of adding personnel don’t outweigh costs.

Auditors noted issues raised in the 2021 audit had been resolved.

They included multiple credit card invoices and receipts not available in a sampling check, credit card used for a personal expense (less than $400) and an incorrect lodging reimbursement of about $1,300.

Contact Jim at jimbutler76@gmail.com