Louisiana Governmental Audit Guide

Who Reports To The Legislative Auditor?

Housing Authorities (200-1070)

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DISCLAIMER
The Louisiana Governmental Audit Guide (LAGAG) is authorized by Louisiana Revised Statute 24:513 A. (5) (a) (i) to set forth the standards by which the engagements of local governments and quasi-public organizations (local auditees) are to be performed. The LAGAG is jointly produced by the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA) and the Society of Louisiana Certified Public Accountants.

Although the LAGAG is intended to assist CPAs in performing their audits and other engagements for local auditees, it does not include a detailed analysis of the professional auditing and accounting standards a CPA must consider during his or her audit, review/attestation or compilation engagements; nor is it a substitute for professional judgment. CPAs must reach their own conclusions through research of all applicable auditing and accounting standards, in addition to the LAGAG, in the performance of their local auditee engagements.

In addition, although the LAGAG is intended to assist local auditees, it does not include all of the legal and accounting information an agency needs to perform its operations; nor is it a substitute for professional, legal or accounting advice; or professional or personal judgment. Local auditees should use the information in the LAGAG, in conjunction with the guidance of the professionals most familiar with the particular facts and circumstances regarding their agency, in the performance of their operations.

For questions and comments about the LAGAG, please contact LLA at (225) 339-3800.


Public housing authorities in Louisiana were created in Title 40 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes (R.S.). R.S. 40:392 authorizes housing authorities in all cities and parishes, however, the authorities are not permitted to conduct business until certain conditions, defined in R.S. 40:392-395, are met.

All or most of the funding for housing authorities in Louisiana comes directly to the individual housing authority from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, because housing authorities are set up under either a parish governing authority or a municipality, they are considered to be local auditees LLA LaGAG; and are required to provide an annual financial report to the Louisiana Legislative Auditor (LLA).

Housing authorities provide housing assistance to low income individuals through two programs –
    Ø Low income housing program, whereby ownership of the rental units is in the name of the housing authority

    Ø Section 8 housing program, whereby ownership of the rental units is in the name of private landlords

Each housing authority is governed by a five-member board of commissioners who are appointed by the mayor or the parish governing authority, and serve three-year staggered terms.

Most housing authorities provide annual financial reports to LLA separately from their related parish governing authority or municipality. Some parish governing authorities or municipalities administer a Section 8 program without a housing authority board. Those programs are usually accounted for in the parish governing authority’s annual financial report.

The Louisiana Compliance Questionnaire LLA LaGAGrequires housing authorities to provide statements or representations to their auditor regarding their compliance with certain provisions laws and regulations. Auditors are required to test the housing authority’s compliance with these laws and regulations.



NB: This document is the current version as of 09/12/2017.

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