6.2. SR 06-19-2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF ELK RIVER NOTES TO BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2016 NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) B. Reporting Entity (Continued) 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 criteria 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 HRA's budget. The HRA does not issue separate financial statements and are included in the financial section of this report. C. Government-Wide Financial Statements The government-wide financial statements (statement of net position and statement of activities) display information about the reporting government as a whole. These statements include all of the financial activities of the City, except fiduciary funds. Since, by definition, fiduciary fund assets are held for the benefit of a third party and cannot be used for activities or obligations of the City, these funds are excluded from the government-wide 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 sales, fees, and charges for support. 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, 2) operating grants and contributions, and 3) capital grants and contributions, including special assessments that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital requirements of a particular function or segment. Taxes and other internally directed revenues are reported as general revenues. The government-wide financial statements are reported using the economic resources measurement focus and the accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded when a liability is incurred, regardless of the timing of related cash flows. Property taxes and special assessments are recognized as revenues in the fiscal year for which they are levied. Grants and similar items are recognized when all eligibility requirements imposed by the provider have been met. (38)