VIDALIA — An official with the Concordia Parish Police Jury said he was pleased with the parish’s annual audit, but noted the parish was cited for submitting the report five days late.

In an audit released earlier this month, the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s office found the police jury was noncompliant in submitting the audit on July 5. The deadline is June 30.

Secretary/Treasurer Kevin Friloux said the parish did not receive documents from two external sources by the deadline, so the parish elected to be late rather than amend the audit after deadline since the consequences would be the same.

This year, Friloux said the Police Jury would begin the audit process earlier so banks and other institutions have more time to send in documents and schedules.

Overall, Friloux said the report cast the police jury’s accounting system in a positive light.

“I was pleased with the report,” Friloux said. “They did not note any financial discrepancies.”

The parish’s revenues were approximately $1.2 million more than expenses, bringing the jury’s net position up to approximately $13.4 million.

Friloux said he’s constantly looking at spending in the parish in hopes to come in under budget each year.

“If I see somebody in one of the departments spending more money than they should, I make them aware of it,” he said. “We try to keep spending down.”

The largest expense of the parish was the public works department at approximately $3 million, and the department’s budget was down $45,392 compared to 2014.

Total revenues declined $208,551 compared to 2015, and Friloux attributed that to property taxes being down. Friloux said taxes could be down this year as well, and 2017 will be more of the same with the Fruit of the Loom plant’s upcoming closure.

Friloux said from Fruit of the Loom alone, the parish is projecting to lose approximately $125,000 in revenue.

Vidalia Mayor Buz Craft said Fruit of the Loom would vacate the property on Dec. 31