Rebuilding process

BATON ROUGE -- Evangeline Parish Sheriff Eddie Soileau can now begin working towards rebuilding his department since receiving approval from the Louisiana State Bond Commission on Thursday to borrow $1,000,000.
Before hearing from Soileau himself and granting the approval however, the bond commission was informed of the sheriff’s financial situation that led to him having to layoff 14 employees last month.
The bond commission was told that the primary reason for the sheriff’s request for the loan is because Soileau anticipates that he will not be able to make payroll again this month.
The reasons for this financial crisis were listed as a direct result of a $1.3 million decline in revenues from the years 2014 to 2017, as well as adjustments not being made to stay within their budget after the loss of long time administrator Glenda Nicholas.
Other factors that have contributed to the sheriff’s office operating in a deficit position since 2012, except for year 2014, were said to be from the parish jail losing state accreditation, a decline in civil and criminal fees, contract changes with 9-1-1 due to moving locations, feeding and housing of inmates, and the closing of the prisons in Basile and Pine Prairie.
When it was Soileau’s turn to speak, he mostly focused on explaining how the passing of his administrator in 2013 became the major cause for his departments financial woes today.
“In 2012 the long time administrator was diagnosed with cancer that was terminal,” said Soileau. “She began teaching other staff to advance the transition of a change in administrators. Unfortunately I was under the impression that the individuals she had prepared were ready and equipped to continue the administrative duties of the office.”
The three-term sheriff then continued by stating that he now realizes that he “should have consulted an outside qualified independent source regarding the finances of the department.”
Soileau then proceeded to acknowledge his own faults in this situation.
The sheriff said, “Of course I am saddened that my own inexperience of dealing with finances of this magnitude is now resulting in layoffs of individuals that have become friends and extended family. Nevertheless, I realize we must move forward.”
If given the opportunity to borrow $1,000,000, which will be administered through Whitney Bank, Soileau said that he is “ready and willing to take responsibility to do what is necessary and make the administrative decisions necessary to accomplish his task.”
Following Soileau’s statements, Louisiana State Senator John Alario asked for more details on what exactly the money would be used for.
Evangeline Parish Tax Assessor Dirk Deville, who accompanied the sheriff to the hearing, answered, “The money will cover what we are short at this time plus a little bit. I think it would get us to a point probably by March where we would have a pretty good handle on it.
“We have a plan in place where we are going to make some additional cuts to what he (Soileau) did last month, and I think we will get to where we are spending about $30,000 less than he (Soileau) is taking in. That will help us with debt service.”
Before granting Soileau with his request, Louisiana State Treasurer John Kennedy had some encouraging words for the sheriff.
Kennedy said, “I think you have done the right thing by working with your tax assessor and your police jury. You have a plan, which I appreciate, to eliminate the deficit.”
The plan that Deville and Kennedy spoke of includes a cooperative endeavour agreement that the sheriff has entered into with the EP Tax Assessor to help work on a multi year plan to address Soileau’s deficit. Deville will also be providing the sheriff with staff, including CPA Josh Fontenot, to assist the district in developing a plan to fiscally balance the sheriff’s revenues and expenditures in the hopes of turning things around for the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office.