4.1 ERMUSR 04-14-2020 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Compliance As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, we performed tests of compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grants, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit. The results of our tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under statutes set forth by the State of Minnesota. Qualitative Aspects of Accounting Practices Management is responsible for the selection and use of appropriate accounting policies. The significant accounting policies used by the Utilitiesare described in Note 1 to the financial statements. No new accounting policies were adopted and the application of existing policies were not changed during the year ended December 31, 2019.We noted no transactions entered into by the Utilitiesduring the year for which there is a lack of authoritative guidance or consensus. All significant transactions have been recognized in the financial statements in the proper period. Accounting estimates are an integral part of the financial statements prepared by management and are based on management’s knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions about future events. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ significantly from those expected. The most sensitive estimates affecting the financial statements were depreciation on capital assets,payroll related expenses, the liability for the Utilities’ Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB), and the liability for the Utilities’ pensions. Management’s estimate of depreciation is based on estimated useful lives of the assets. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method. Allocations of gross wages and payroll benefits are approved by the Board within the Utilities’ budget and are derived from each employee’s estimated time to be spent servicing the respective functions of the Utilities. These allocations are also used in allocating accrued compensated absences payable. Management’s estimate of its OPEB liability is based on several factors including, but not limited to, anticipated retirement age for active employees, life expectancy, turnover, and healthcare cost trend rate. Management’s estimate of its pension liability is based on several factors including, but not limited to, anticipated investment return rate, retirement age for active employees, life expectancy, salary increases and form of annuity payment upon retirement. We evaluated the key factors and assumptions used to develop these accounting estimates in determining that it is reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole.The disclosures in the financial statements are neutral, consistent, and clear. Certain financial statement disclosures are particularly sensitive because of their significanceto financial statement users. Difficulties Encountered in Performing the Audit We encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing and completing our audit. Corrected and Uncorrected Misstatements Professional standards require us to accumulate all known and likely misstatements identified during the audit, other than those that are trivial, and communicate them to the appropriate level of management. Management has corrected all such misstatements. In addition, none of the misstatements detected as a result of audit procedures and corrected by management were material, either individually or in the aggregate, to each opinion unit’s financial statements taken as a whole. Management Representations We have requested certainrepresentations frommanagement thatare included in the management representation letterdated 3 86