Auditor: VP Housing Authority finances 'very sound'

The Ville Platte Housing Authority heard some positive news about the audit report of the fiscal year that ended at the end of June.
CPA Richard Urban of Opelousas told the housing authority board the audit shows the authority “is in a very sound financial position,” adding the board “is definitely doing something right.”
Urban reported the authority had a profit of $143,973 at the end of the fiscal year due to federal subsidies and efficient rental collection procedures. The audit report listed net operating expenses as substantially lower than the year before and net increase in cash almost $181,000 greater than the previous fiscal year.
The board got more good news: the housing authority received a high Public Housing Assessment Score issued by HUD. The score results from an annual inspection last summer of the physical facilities, management practices and the financial records of the housing authority.
Because of the high score -- 93 out of a possible 100 -- HUD determined that the Ville Platte Housing Authority will not need another inspection until 2016.
In other business, board members voted to accept the low bid of $18,400 for stoves and refrigerators from Cester Young Applainces of Mamou. The two other, higher, bids came from retailers based outside of the parish.
The housing authority board discussed -- but took no action on -- three other issues that will be taken up during future meetings:
•Upgrading apartments from window air conditioning units and wall-mounted heaters to central heading and air conditioning, and how such an upgrade would improve safety as well as lead to cost efficiencies.
•An ongoing study of whether to keep employees as part-time workers or if they should be employed as permanent full-time employees. The board members decided more information, including a cost-benefit review, is needed before a decision can be made. In the meantime the board decided to extend the part-time employment agreements for 30 days.
•Heard a proposal to perform facility improvement services for the housing authority -- currently the responsibility of Landreneau & Assocites in Ville Platte -- by a representative of architectural consultants Alliance Design Group, from Alexandria. The board will make a decision on contracting for those services during its next meeting.