In the recent audit findings, which have been repeated time and time again for years by the Louisiana Auditor, the city of Bogalusa has failed over and over.

This has been going on for years and has drawn attention to many of the financial dire straights the city is facing down the road. Hard times are ahead if the city does not get a grip on things to straighten this out.

I would say now would be a good time, as the city has a deadline to meet by September. The State Auditor will be expecting a solution from the city and will be coming back to Bogalusa. This issue will not go away.

The pension plan, for one example, has been underfunded millions of dollars and will continue to grow larger if not addressed and funded some how. The quick fix was to put it on the ballot for the voters to decide. That was the wrong move, as the voters rejected that idea.

These problems that plague the city just didn’t happen in the last couple of years with the current administration — they have been going on for quite some time since the 1990s and have been handed down from one administration to the other during elections. The current mayor was handed this problem.

The mayor is correct by stating that the Auditor’s office is there to help and make suggestions. What ever their recommendations to the city should be explored and viewed by the city for the best course of action required. Overhead expenses should be examined and eliminated — this may include cutting some jobs, which should be the last resort.

Cutting most expenses should take place first. A source of revenue should be explored to get the city back on track and in good standing with the Louisiana Auditor’s office, as their eyes will be focused on Bogalusa.

The end results may come down to the state coming in and take over for the city. The change of times has arrived and the city must overcome its biggest hurdle in this matter.

Daniel Mizell

Bogalusa