After all was said and done, St. Landry Parish government spent about $40,000 more in 2011 than it took in. The operating deficit is less than 1 per cent if the $13.7 million spent.

According to the just-competed audit, the parish had total revenues of $13.59 million. About $7 million of that is dedicated funding.

The General Fund, which finances day-to-day government operations, had income of $6.51 million and expenses of $6.39 million.

The General Fund is the portion of the budget which has generated the give and take between new Parish President Bill Fontenot and parish council members since January.

Fontenot’s proposed budget for this fiscal-calendar year is scheduled for public hearing on July 18.

The parish revenue and spending is first compiled in five categories: General Fund, Road and Bridge Maintenance Fund, Health Unit Maintenance Fund, Jail Tax Sinking Fund and other governmental funding sources.

The ledger for those, according to the audit report completed this month, shows an operating shortfall of $193,916.

From that is deducted revenue from special sources -- administrative fees, debt proceeds, etc, that totaled $150,450, leaving the parish at -$43,466 for the year.

That dropped the overall parish fund balance at year’s end to $7 million and some change.

The fund balance is broken down this way: General Fund, $2.97 million; road and bridge, $242,000; Health Unit, $1.22 million; Jail Tax Sinking fund, $939,000; other governmental funds, $1.64 million.

Ad valorem property taxes ($1.5 million) and the severance tax ($1 million) accounted for the lion’s share of the general fund.

At year’s end, the parish had $4.9 million in bank deposits. They were secured by federal deposit insurance, $2.5 million, and pledged securities, $5.05 million.

Those securities included uninsured or unregistered investments held by the broker or dealer.

As a follow-up to the audit, the council at a special meeting on June 27 instructed its auditors to compare credit card statements, receipts and payments beginning in 2004.

The current audit discovered American Express charges by former Parish President Don Menard that though itemized on statements were not supported by receipts.

The council also asked Fontenot to provide to its counsel Andrea West any documents requested as part of an on-going internal investigation.