JONESBORO – Dist. Judge Jimmy Teat on Tuesday appointed a fiscal administrator for the town of Jonesboro, which plans to appeal his action.

William Ryder is a CPA who worked for the Louisiana Legislative Auditor’s Office from 1978 to 2011.

The Attorney General’s Office recommended Ryder serve as the town’s fiscal administrator to “administer, manage and oversee the fiscal affairs” of the town “and such other affairs that have a fiscal impact on the town of Jonesboro.”

The action came after more than a year of concerns about the town’s financial affairs.

The court, after hearing testimony, ruled the town doesn’t have sufficient revenues to pay its expenditures.

Town attorney Carol Powell-Lexing called the judgment a “racial and political takeover” of the town.

Authority to recommend an adminstrator lies with the state’s Fiscal Review Committee, comprised of the legislative auditor, attorney general and treasurer.

The town is not allowed to make any expenditures without the administrator’s written approval. The town also is not allowed to incur any indebtedness.

A fiscal administrator also has authority to employ and terminate town employees in order to prevent a deficit.