No one wants to see the Bossier Arts Council (BAC) unfunded by the City of Bossier and evicted from the East Bank building, especially the Bossier City Council and the Bossier mayor. This very likely possibility is due to the inaction of the BAC staff and board of directors, not the city council or the mayor.
The large crowd at the Bossier council meeting pleading for mercy from the council was totally misguided in their collective attitude expressed in a petition, signs and comments before the council. The Bossier council has responsibilities to all Bossier citizens and taxpayers which supersede funding and housing of BAC.
Salient points revealed at the meeting included:
a. it is NOT certain if any BAC funds are missing
b. most of the speakers including the board president were Shreveport residents
c. the majority of the board of directors are Shreveport residents
d. none of the speakers acknowledged the potential detriment to Bossier if the Legislative Auditor’s recommendations are ignored
e. BAC has not received any federal or state grants for several years and non-compliance with the Legislative Auditor requirements will preclude any future grants until compliance
f. There were not reasonable excuses for non-compliance with the Legislative Auditors’ requirements.
The reality of this unfortunate situation is bad, as in very bad.
The city underwrites BAC to the tune of approximately $300,000 per year in funding and in-kind contributions. Drastic action has been suggested by the Legislative Auditor which can not be ignored by the council. Inaction by the council equates to malfeasance and Bossier City’s bond rating could suffer.
The council’s vote provides four weeks for BAC to appease the Legislative Auditor and provide documentation to the city. The ball has always been in the lap of the BAC and the Legislative Auditor, not the council, and the smear campaign directed at council members is totally unjustified and without merit.
John came to Shreveport in January of 1977 when he was transferred to Barksdale AFB.
He’s been active in Shreveport politics since deciding to make Shreveport his home.
John practiced law for 40 years and he now monitors local politics. He regularly attends Shreveport City Council and Caddo Parish Commission meetings.
John is published weekly in The Inquisitor, bi-monthly in The Forum News, and frequently in the Shreveport Times.
He enjoys addressing civic groups on local government issues and elections.