Gibsland mayor says town's finances improving, rejects changing to 'village'

GIBSLAND, La. – The town of Gibsland’s audit released on Monday has repeat findings from last year. But Mayor Jeannie Richardson says that can be deceiving.

The town was already behind on audits when she took office in 2023, she said. So, the auditing firm has performed back-to-back audits to get the town caught up. The most recent audit was completed in April.

“By the time we found the findings, we were already due for the next one. That’s why the findings were still there,” Richardson said. “Next year, we should not have all that. We're still working trying to get things straightened out. We've come a long ways from where started but got a long ways to go."

Among the findings reflected in Monday’s document were lack of internal controls over financial reporting, lack of adequate segregation of duties over accounting, inadequate controls over disbursements. Additionally, neither a balanced budget or amended budget was approved timely. And payroll tax payments were late.

Richardson said she served twice as the town clerk several decades ago. So, she’s familiar with the accounting procedures needed to correct the problems.

“When I got in here, Lord have mercy,” Richardson said.

Town or village?

One of the findings that keeps coming up is the town’s classification as a “town.” Auditors said Gibsland should be a “village” now because of population loss. That also would cut the number of aldermen from five to three.

But Richardson disagrees with the finding and for now has no plans to pursue the change.

A “town” gets its classification if the population is over 1,000. A recent Census estimate puts the number just over 700.

Richardson believes the number could be incorrect. And before any change is considered, she would want a definite count.

“It’s easy to go down, but it’s hard to go back up to a town. I’m thinking we’ve got more people than we had counted,” Richardson said.

There’s always a possibility state legislation or movement from the governor’s office could change that, she acknowledged.

“But I’m hoping they will allow us to do an official count before they would do that. … I don’t want to do it and find out we’re close to 1,000,” Richardson said.

Richardson says people are moving into Gibsland, and she’s addressing infrastructure issues that have been troublesome in recent years.

Because the town was late on its audit, it could not apply for state grant funds to address water system problems. Making repairs to pumps, lines and meters had to be paid out of pocket, Richardson said.

But with the audits updated now, Richardson said the town has four grant requests submitted for funding to address needs with the system.

Richardson qualified last week for reelection. Ray Ivory Sr. and Jessie Faye Manuel are challenging her.