BATON ROUGE (AP) — A new audit finds the state Department of Revenue incorrectly applied a formula and as a result overpaid the Algiers Economic Development District by $6.9 million since 2004.
In a report released Monday by Legislative Auditor Daryl Purpera, auditors recommended that the Department of Revenue work to establish a repayment plan before turning over any more of the Algiers district's cut of state sales taxes.
But there's not much the auditor can do if the Department of Revenue refuses to collect the money. And Revenue Secretary Tim Barfield doesn't appear eager to do that.
The Advocate’s Mark Ballard reports Barfield disagrees with the auditor's interpretation of the formula used to split the state's 4-cent sales tax collections with the economic development district.
