7.1. SR 06-01-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 1, 2015 Honorable Mayor, Members of the City Council, and Citizens of Elk River: The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the City of Elk River for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014, is hereby submitted. Minnesota State Statutes and the City's ordinance require an annual audit of the City's accounts by the State Auditor's Office or by independent certified public accountants. The firm of Abdo, Fick, and Meyers was selected to perform the City's audit and their unmodified opinion has been included in this report. The independent auditor's report is included in the financial section of this report. This report was prepared by the City's Finance Department and responsibility for both the completeness and accuracy of this data, as well as the fairness of this presentation including all enclosures, rests with the City. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the enclosed data are accurate in all material respects and are recorded in a manner designed to present fairly the financial position and the results of operations of the various funds of the City. To provide a reasonable basis for making these representations, management of the City has established a comprehensive internal control framework that is designed to both protect the City's assets from loss, theft, or misuse, and to compile sufficient reliable information for the preparation of these financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). Internal accounting controls are designed to provide reasonable but not absolute assurance regarding the safeguarding of the City's assets against loss, theft, or misuse, and ensuring that adequate financial records are maintained for preparing financial statements, and maintaining accountability for assets. The development of an appropriate internal control system requires estimates and judgments by management to ensure that the costs do not exceed the benefits of the system. The City of Elk River's internal control structure is designed so that the estimated costs of control do not exceed the benefits. Generally accepted accounting principles require that management provide a narrative introduction, overview and analysis to accompany the basic financial statements in the form of a Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD &A). This letter of transmittal is designed to compliment the MD &A and should be read in conjunction with it. The City of Elk River's MD &A immediately follows the independent auditor's report and provides a narrative introduction, overview, and analysis of the basic financial statements. Profile of the Government The City of Elk River was originally incorporated in 1880 and consolidated with Elk River Township in 1978 to form a city of 44 square miles. The City of Elk River is located in Sherburne County and serves as the county seat. Elk River is located approximately halfway between the metropolitan areas of Minneapolis /St. Paul and Saint Cloud along the Mississippi River. The City of Elk River has been growing and will not reach full development in the near future. The current population is approximately 23,656. Urban services are available to about one -third of the land area in the City. The City of Elk River operates under a statutory form of government consisting of a four member City Council and a Mayor who is also a voting member. Council members are elected by ward to a four -year term with two Council seats up for election each even year. The Mayor is also elected to a four -year term. The City Council is responsible for adopting the City's budget and tax levy, passing resolutions and ordinances, all hiring and firing decisions, policy making, development and growth planning, and overall direction of the City. In addition to providing general government services, the City of Elk River provides a full range of other services including police and fire protection, building and other safety inspections, planning and zoning, economic development, environmental services, parks and recreation, library, street, snow removal, infrastructure maintenance and repair, and others. The City also provides municipal water, sewer, garbage, and electric services and operates two off -sale liquor stores.