5.3. ERMUSR 04-12-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

ELK RIVER MUNICIPAL UTILITIES ELK RIVER,MINNESOTA NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31,2015 Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A. Nature of the business The Elk River Municipal Utilities(the Utilities)is a municipal utility established by action of the City of Elk River(the City)pursuant to Minnesota statute 412.321 and consequently it's Electric and Water funds are enterprise funds of the City.The Public Utilities Commission(the Commission)members are appointed by the City Council.The Commission determines all matters of policy.The Commission appoints personnel responsible for the proper administration of all affairs relating to the Utilities.The Utilities distributes electricity and water to the residents of Elk River,Dayton,Big Lake and Otsego,Minnesota. The Utilities 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 Utilities are such that exclusion would cause the Utilities' 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.There are no component units. B. Measurement focus,basis of accounting and basis of presentation The accounts of the Utilities are organized and operated on the basis of funds.A fund is an independent fiscal and accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts.Fund accounting segregates funds according to their intended purpose and is used to aid management in demonstrating compliance with finance-related legal and contractual provisions.The minimum number of funds is maintained consistently with legal and managerial requirements. Revenue resulting from exchange transactions,in which each party gives and receives essentially equal value,is recorded on the accrual basis when the exchange takes place. Non-exchange transactions,in which the Utilities receives value without directly giving equal value in return,include property taxes,grants,entitlements and donations.Revenue from property taxes is recognized in the year for which the tax is levied.Revenue from grants,entitlements and donations is recognized in the year in which all eligibility requirements have been satisfied. Eligibility requirements include timing requirements,which specify the year when the resources are required to be used or the year when use is first permitted,matching requirements,in which the Utilities must provide local resources to be used for a specified purpose,and expenditure requirements,in which the resources are provided to the Utilities on a reimbursement basis. Grants and entitlements received before eligibility requirements are met are also recorded as unearned revenue. The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures.Accordingly,actual results could differ from those estimates. Proprietary funds are accounted for on the flow of economic resources measurement focus and use the accrual basis of accounting.Under this method,revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded at the time liabilities are incurred.Proprietary funds include the following fund type: Enterprise funds account for those operations that are financed and operated in a manner similar to private business or where the Utilities has decided that the determination of revenues earned,costs incurred and/or net income is necessary for management accountability. Proprietary funds distinguish operating revenues and expenses from nonoperating items.Operating revenues and expenses generally result from providing services and producing and delivering goods in connection with a proprietary fund's principal ongoing operations.The principal operating revenues of the Water and Electric enterprise funds are charges to customers for sales and service.Operating expenses for enterprise funds include the cost of sales and services, administrative expenses and depreciation on capital assets.All revenues and expenses not meeting this definition are reported as nonoperating revenues and expenses. 126