8.1. SR 06-04-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

CITY OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA NOTES TO FINANCIAL. STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2011 Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A. Reporting Entity The City of Elk River operates under the "Optional Plan A" form of government as defined in the State of Minnesota Statutes. Under this plan, the government of the City is directed by a Council composed of an elected Mayor and four elected Council Members. The Council exercises legislative authority and determines all matters of policy. The Council appoints personnel responsible for the proper administration of all affairs relating to the City. As required by generally accepted accounting principles, the financial statements of the reporting entity include those of the City of Elk River (the primary government) and its component units. The Elk River Municipal Utilities is considered to be part of the primary government. The Elk River Municipal Utilities was established and statutory authority is provided in accordance with Chapter 412.321 of the Minnesota Statutes and is considered to be part of the City. The Utilities Commission has three council approved members who serve overlapping three year terms. The statutes provide the City Council all the discretionary authority necessary to operate the utilities, except as its powers have been delegated to the Commission. The Utility funds are included with the enterprise funds of this report. Separate financial statements for the Utilities may be obtained at the Elk River Municipal Utilities, 13069 Orono Pkwy, Elk River. The City has considered all potential units for which it is financially accountable, and other organizations for which the nature and significance of their relationship with the City are such that exclusion would cause the City's financial statements to be misleading or incomplete. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has set forth criteria to be considered in determining financial accountability. These criteria include appointing a voting majority of an organization's governing body, and (1) the ability of the primary government to impose its will on that organization or (2) the potential for the organization to provide specific benefits to, or impose specific financial burdens on the primary government. The City has the following component units: Blended Component Unit The Economic Development Authority (EDA) was created to carry out economic and industrial development and redevelopment within the City in accordance with policies established by the City Council. The seven member board consists of three Council Members, the Mayor and three other council approved members. The EDA may not exercise any of its authorized powers without prior approval of the City Council. The activities of the EDA are blended and reported as a special revenue fund. Discretely Presented Component Unit The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is a separate legal entity created for the purpose of providing redevelopment within the government's jurisdiction. The board consists of five council appointed members, one of which is a Council Member. The City Council has the ability to approve the HRA's budget. The HRA is presented as a governmental fund type. The financial statements for the HRA are included in the financial section of this report. B. Government -Wide and Fund Financial Statements The government -wide financial statements (i.e., the statement of net assets and the statement of activities) report information on all of the nonfiduciary activities of the primary government and its component units. For the most part, the effect of interfund activity has been removed from these statements. Governmental activities, which normally are supported by taxes and intergovernmental revenues, are reported separately from business -type activities, which rely to a significant extent on fees and charges for support. Likewise, the primary government is reported separately from certain legally separate component units for which the primary government is financially accountable. The statement of activities demonstrates the degree to which the direct expenses of a given function or segment is offset by program revenues. Direct expenses are those that are clearly identifiable with a specific function or segment. Program revenues include 1) charges to customers or applicants who purchase, use, or directly benefit from goods, services, or privileges provided by a given function or segment and 2) grants and contributions that are restricted to 37