6.1. SR 06-06-2016 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2015 Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A. Description of Government -Wide Financial Statements The government -wide financial statements (i.e., the statement of net position and the statement of activities) report information on all of the nonfiduciary activities of the primary government and its component units. All fiduciary activities are reported only in the fund financial 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 to external customers for support. Likewise, the primary government is reported separately from certain legally separate component units for which the primary government is financially accountable. B. 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. Based upon the application of these criteria, 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 City has operational responsibility and that it is this criterion that results in the EDA being reported as a blended component unit. The EDA is reported as a special revenue fund and does not issue separate financial statements. Discretely Presented Component Unit The Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) is a legally separate entity created to carry out community development consistent with policies established by the City Council. The HRA is governed by five council appointed members, one of which is a Council Member; however, the City does not have a financial benefit or burden relationship and does not have operational responsibility. The criterion that results in the HRA being reported as a discretely presented component unit include 1) the five council appointed member board and 2) the ability of the City to impose its will on the HRA by significantly influencing the programs, projects, activities or level of service performed by the HRA by approving the HRH's budget. The HRA does not issue separate financial statements and are included in the financial section of this report. -51-