BATON ROUGE — A state lawmaker says Louisiana is wasting taxpayer money on boards and commissions that are not doing their jobs, and a new report backs that up.

The Legislative Auditor's Office flagged 15 of 492 state-created boards and commissions as inactive in its latest report. The state tracks information from these groups, including their mission, members, meeting dates and dues.

A few Baton Rouge-based boards made the inactive list. These groups are considered inactive because they are not reporting required information to the state.

Barrett Hunter, assistant director, said the reason for inactivity is not always clear. "I don't know if they're inactive. I don't know if they've just kind of fallen apart or they just choose not to respond," Hunter said.

One of the 15 flagged boards is the Glen Oaks Crime Prevention District, which State Sen. Regina Barrow created through legislation in 2023. Marigny spoke to residents at the district's first meeting in 2024.

"During the night, you're sleeping, and sometimes you hear gunshots," Dorothy Thomas, a resident, said at the time. Thomas also said at that meeting, "Everybody seems to be coming together and getting things done, and that makes you feel good."

Pineville State Rep. Mike Johnson says many inactive boards need to be eliminated. "Inactive boards and boards that aren't really accomplishing anything are probably a direct example of ways we can cut and make government more efficient," Johnson said.

During the last legislative session, Johnson sponsored legislation that abolished about a dozen boards that failed to comply with reporting requirements. That move shrunk the state's database of boards and commissions.

Hunter noted that inactivity is not always a sign of wrongdoing.

"Right, and they could be completing their mission, just not reporting in their database," Hunter said.

Christopher Richard, president of the Glen Oaks Area Neighborhood Association, said the Glen Oaks Area Crime Prevention and Improvement District is still in its early stages. The district has not collected any dues or introduced new policies, and residents still need to vote before work to improve the community can begin.