Director was fired in August 2021
By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
LACOMBE – A year after Lacombe Recreation District #4 board members were highly criticized for the firing of Director Jordan Johnson, an independent audit has highlighted numerous financial questions, mainly concerning rampant overpayment for time off to rec district employees.
The findings of the audit, conducted by Bourgeois Bennett (Certified Public Accountants) have been turned over to the Sheriff’s Office, the District Attorney and the Louisiana Legislative Auditor for consideration of possible criminal charges.
Johnson was hired in 2016 as the new rec director, which coincidentally followed another tumultuous time for the district when the previous director was fired and charged criminally for reportedly stealing money.
Johnson had his staunch supporters during his first five years and was lauded by several Lacombe leaders for “bringing confidence back to the program and turning things around.” But he also had his critics, mainly on the seven-member board, who had frequent disputes with him about finances, following the rules for rental of the gymnasium and other policy/procedures he reportedly had violated.
Since that time, the volunteer board members have endured criticism and questions from members of the public at their regular meetings, including some threats of violence to board members who declined to be interviewed for the story.
In August of 2021, Johnson was fired by the board in a 6-1 vote, leading to a decision by the board to review records for the years 2020 and 2021. They hired Bourgeois Bennett, a highly respected Metairie CPA firm, to conduct an independent audit to seek the truth behind the many questions.
In June of 2022, Bourgeois Bennett released the findings of the audit that cite numerous payroll infractions for several employees, all involving overpayment of rec district funds for paid time off (PTO) they reportedly had not earned. The audit also questions missing money from concession sales, other money spent without receipts, and illegal use of the rec district gymnasium without being compensated.
“In about May or June 2021, the Board discovered that the Executive Director, Jordan Johnson, had allegedly violated the Policies and Procedures and acted without the required approval of the Board. These alleged violations include the following,” the audit reported.
–Allegedly failing to follow procedures for using credit cards, including documented approval for purchase orders and retention of receipts.
–Allegedly failing to maintain inventory records of concession sales.
–Alleged differences between the number of sales per the point-of-sale system and the amount deposited to the bank account.
–At least one alleged petty cash withdrawal for $246 with no receipt.
–At least one alleged instance where a reimbursement for mileage was duplicated on two different expense reports.
–Allegedly renting facilities to family or friends either at discounted rates or without compensation.
–The Executive Director allegedly checking in-and-out employees through Netchex electronically when the Policies and Procedures required a manual signature.
–Allegedly violating the policy for paid time off (PTO) including accruing more hours than were granted, rolling unused PTO hours over to the subsequent year, and paying for Family Medical Leave Act time when it was supposed to be unpaid time.
For 2020 and 2021 alone, the report listed three employees who were reportedly paid a total of 232 hours more for paid time off than they should have received, and the audit also stated “District No. 4 does not have the required documentation for payroll, including missing approved requests for PTO, and there are no time sheets. Furthermore, PTO appears to have been overpaid to some employees.”
One employee was also paid regular payroll while on maternity leave, even though the rec district policy does not provide paid benefits for Family Medical Leave time.
Johnson received a salary in 2020 of $48,700, his final full year before being terminated mid-way through 2021. He is currently a candidate for the St. Tammany School Board elections this November.
The Lacombe Recreation Board #4 receives the majority of its funding through a property tax millage. The board has spent $18,000 to date to pay for the audit.