Laserfiche WebLink
IV-20CITY OF ELK RIVER NOTES TO BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2019 NOTE 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A. Organization The City of Elk River, Minnesota (the City) operates under the "Optional Plan A" form of government as defined in Minnesota Statutes. Under this plan, the City Council, composed of an elected mayor and four elected Council Members. The Council appoints personnel responsible for the proper administration of all affairs relating to the City. The financial statements and the accounting policies of the City conform to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America as applicable to governmental units. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the accepted standard setting body for establishing governmental accounting and financial reporting principles. B. Reporting Entity As required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, 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 five 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, Minnesota, 55330. 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 criteria that result in the EDA being reported as a blended component unit include the fact that the EDA may not exercise any of its authorized powers without prior approval of the City Council and the City having operational responsibility. The EDA is reported as a special revenue fund and does not issue separate financial statements. CITY OF ELK RIVER NOTES TO BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2019 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. 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. 168