Maurice aldermen hear positive audit report

MAURICE — The Village of Maurice Board of Aldermen received a positive annual audit report during its regular meeting last Wednesday.
The report is for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Mike Roy of John S. Dowling & Company presented the report.
“What it states is that we gave an unqualified opinion,” Roy told the board, “which is the highest opinion allowed.
“The financial statements are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.”
Maurice Mayor Wayne Theriot said he is pleased with the report.
“This is such a good report and talks about all the positive numbers,” Theriot said. “There has been no deficit in balances in many of the funds.”
That includes the 1975 sales tax fund, a 1-percent tax dedicated to the construction and maintenance of the sewer and water system. The fund saw a favorable variance of $79,534 over the budgeted $1,224,242 for the year.
Theriot said there are plenty to thank for the overall results.
“I want to personally compliment our staff,” Theriot said. “Our office staff, maintenance staff and our police department, have accomplished a lot with a very limited amount of resources.
“Their dedication is the reason why we are able to do this and be in this position.”
Alderman Darin Desormeaux agreed, adding thanks to Theriot’s comments.
“I want to add the mayor,” Desormeaux said of the deserved thanks.
Desormeaux said this is as good as he has seen in his decade plus on the board.
“In 11 years on this seat,” Desormeaux said of his time as an alderman, “I don’t recall numbers looking this good. It is very impressive because we are using our resources to the fullest of their abilities. We had to make some tough decisions, such as raising occupational licenses, building permits, Ect., Ect.
“We are starting to see the reward from it.”
Theriot explained the village will look at other avenues to reach similar results.
“We are going to consider paying off the 2008 Revenue Bond,” Theriot said. “We are going to see how we go about doing that. The bond is at 4.5 percent interest and none of our investments, and I think we have a $1.3 million fund balance in investments, are basically under one percent interest. It would be a good savings to the village if we are able to pay that bond off.
“We are going to work towards that.”