VP Housing Authority addresses differences in financial statements

At the Ville Platte Housing Authority meeting, the board learned that their finance statement doesn’t accurately reflect their current revenues due to changes in the codes used to document their funds.
During the meeting, the board’s vice chairman David Ortego revealed that the financial statement says that revenues for December 2016 totaled $286,244.73, while they totaled $613,314.89 in December 2015.
Fonda Lartigue, who is the secretary for the housing authority, then explained to the board that the total revenues for Dec. 2016 are down so much because earned subsidies are no longer reflected in total revenues. They are now documented under surplus credits and charges.
When the earned subsidies are added to the total revenues for Dec. 2016, the amount comes to $645,517.73, which is more than the total revenues for Dec. 2015.
To be able to better understand the how money is now being documented, the board decided that they would invite their accountant to the next meeting to better explain this change.
At the February 14th meeting, the board also discussed the renewal of their police contract, which the board unanimously approved.
The police contract allows the housing authority to have an off duty police officer patrolling the area at different times.
According to Executive Director Grant Soileau, “the presence of a police officer makes a difference” when it comes to keeping crime down in this area.
Following this discussion, Soileau asked the board for permission to purchase 10 new refrigerators and stoves for apartments at the housing authority, which the board granted.
Soileau then explained their 2017 Capital Fund Program (CFP) one year plan, which is required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in order to receive CFP funds.
Their plan is to continue updating apartments by installing central air conditioning and heating, and then use the remaining money to begin replacing windows in some of the units.
The board unanimously approved Soileau’s plan.
Other items approved were:
• Daniel Arvie selected to serve as Chairman of the Housing Authority Board.
• David Ortego selected to serve as Vice Chairman of the Housing Authority Board.
• Minutes approved from the December 6, 2016 meeting.