Louisiana House Bill HCR88

Louisiana 2017 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/18/17
• Refer: 5/22/17
• Report Pass: 5/30/17
• Engrossed: 6/2/17
• Report Pass: 6/5/17
• Passed: 6/6/17

Caption

Requests the commissioner of administration to prepare a reconciliation of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report with certain other year-end financial reports

Impact

The resolution is intended to mitigate risks associated with discrepancies in financial reporting that could lead to incorrect budgetary decisions. HCR88 arises from past issues where significant funds were found to have been misreported, as illustrated by a substantial $300 million that was previously omitted under the budgetary basis. By advocating for a reconciliation statement reviewed by the legislative auditor, HCR88 aims to enhance accountability and accuracy in the state's fiscal management, potentially preventing miscalculations in future budget considerations.

Summary

House Concurrent Resolution 88 (HCR88) seeks to improve financial transparency within Louisiana's state government by urging the commissioner of administration to provide a reconciliation statement when presenting the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) to the Joint Legislative Committee on the Budget. This reconciliation would align the balances reported on the state's budgetary basis of accounting with the General Fund Total Fund Balance from the CAFR. The resolution underscores the importance of accurate financial reporting and monitoring to ensure that legislative budget decisions are based on reliable data.

Sentiment

Overall, the sentiment around HCR88 appears to be positive, reflecting a consensus on the need for greater fiscal transparency and accountability within state administration. Legislators across the board seem to support measures that ensure accurate financial reporting, as it fosters trust in governmental budgetary practices. This resolution can be viewed as a proactive approach by lawmakers to address concerns regarding financial misreporting and to facilitate better-informed legislative decisions.

Contention

While there doesn't seem to be notable contention surrounding the resolution itself, potential challenges may arise in implementing the reconciliation process outlined in HCR88. Some might argue about the feasibility of reconciliations being done consistently or the amount of resources required to conduct such reviews effectively. Thus, while the resolution is well-intentioned, its implementation may yield discussions on practicality and the administrative burden on state resources.