Este texto se extrajo de el PDF de forma automática y puede contener errores. El PDF es el registro oficial, así que consúltelo antes de confiar en esto.
1 página tiene poco o ningún texto legible aquí, a menudo por ser escaneos o dibujos. Para verla, consulte el PDF.
Página 1
ATTACHMENT #1
LEGISLATIVE, FINANCE, AND ADM INISTRATION M INUTES 07/14/2008
CITY OF DOVER
FINANCIAL POLICIES
ORIGINAL POLICY = BLANK FONT
DRAFT CHANGES = RED FONT
COMMITTEE COMMENTS = BLUE FONT
Revised Draft 06/23/08
Página 2
CITY OF DOVER, DELAWARE
FINANCIAL POLICIES
The purpose of these policies is to present a standardized set of principles that the City follows in
managing its financial and budgetary affairs. These are general statements of policies, which
represent long-standing principles, traditions, and practices that will be used to guide the City in
maintaining financial stability. It will be the responsibility of the Finance Department to ensure the
financial objectives of these policies are maintained.
Revenue Policy
1. The City will strive to maintain a broad and diversified revenue base that will equitably
distribute the burden of supporting City services and will protect the City from short-term
fluctuations in any one revenue source.
2. The City will actively support economic and industrial development recruitment and retention
efforts to provide for a solid revenue base.
3. The City will maintain timely collection systems and implement necessary enforcement
strategies to collect revenues from available sources.
4. The City will establish user fees and charges for services, when feasible, at levels related to the
cost of providing the services. The City will review the fees and charges every three to five
years to determine modifications needed to keep pace with the cost of providing the services.
Property Tax Rates are set annually.
5. The City will review its incentive programs every three years and provide City Council with the
amount of foregone revenues and any recommended changes.
6. The City will establish, when feasible, self-supporting enterprise funds and intergovernmental
service funds in which a relationship between revenues and expenditures clearly exists.
7. The City will project current revenues on a conservative basis so the actual revenues will
consistently meet or exceed budgeted revenues.
8. The City will maintain a budgetary control system and will prepare reports, which compare
actual revenues to budgeted amounts.
9. The City will limit the designation of General Fund revenues for specified purposes to
maximize flexibility in budgeting and revenue utilization.
10. The City will review annually and revise, where necessary, its cost allocation formulas, i.e.
internal service departments’ funds, right-of-way fees.
11. Upon satisfying all rate covenants the City will provide operating transfers to the General Fund.
From the Water/Wastewater Utility no greater than 4.5% or $750,000. From the and Electric
2
Página 3
Utilityies no greater than 8% 6.5% or $7,250,000 of the utility operating revenues. Both transfer
calculations will excludeing the carry forward budget balance, County Sewer Fees, and State
Utility Tax. The Utility transfers will not exceed 25% of the General Fund Revenues.
Expenditure Policy
1. Basic and essential services provided by the City will receive first priority for funding, i.e.
Public Safety & Health, Utilities, Streets, & Sanitation. The City will establish performance
measurements for all program areas, when feasible. These measures will reflect the demand,
workload capability, and projected outcomes for the program to accomplish its objectives.
2. The City will adopt a balanced budget, by fund, for all funds maintained by the City, in which
total anticipated revenues must equal or exceed the budgeted expenditures for each fund.
However, if this cannot be attained, the City will utilize unallocated budget balances, which
have been carried forward from prior years as approved by Mayor and Council. The Beginning
Budget Balance will not be considered a revenue source.
3. The City will maintain a budgetary control system to ensure adherence to the adopted budget
and will prepare reports, which compare actual expenditures to budgeted amounts.
4. The City will refrain from budgeting revenues derived from infrequent and unanticipated
transactions non-recurring or one-time revenue for ongoing expenses. These revenues will be
set aside for asset replacement or as otherwise directed by Mayor and Council.
5. The City will provide access to medical, dental, vision, life, AD & D, and short-term disability
insurance for its employees. The cost for these benefits will be a shared responsibility between
the City and its employees as outlined in the City Personnel Handbook or collective bargaining
agreements.
6. The City will provide access to medical and dental insurance for its retiree’s and their families.
The cost for these benefits will be a shared responsibility between the City and its retirees as
outlined in the City Personnel Handbook or collective bargaining agreements.
7. The City will provide access to appropriate retirement plans for its employees. The City will
make contributions for eligible employees at the actuarial determined percentage defined for
each of the respective retirement plans.
8. The City will establish an Other Post-Employment Benefit Fund (OPEB) and provide available
funding for early implementation of a new accounting standard promulgated by the Government
Accounting Standards Board. When the standard officially takes effect, the City will make
contributions for eligible employees and retirees at the actuarial determined rates or percentages
to fund future retiree medical benefits.
3
Página 4
Debt Policy
1. The City will maintain a debt management policy and full disclosure on financial reports.
2. The City will maintain communications with bond rating agencies and continue to strive for
improvements in the City’s bond rating.
3. The City will adhere to its debt covenants.
4. The City will review its debt capacity every three years.
5. The City will pay for all capital projects and capital improvements on a pay-as-you-go basis
using current revenues whenever possible. If a project or improvement can not be financed with
current revenues, long-term debt or use of reserves will be recommended.
6. The City will refrain from issuing long-term debt for a period in excess of the expected useful
life of the capital project.
7. The City will use special assessment revenue or other self-supporting bonds instead of general
obligation bonds, when practical.
8. The City will seek refinancing of outstanding debt if it is determined that the City will benefit
by reduced interest expense over the remaining life of the bonds.
Budget Balance/Reserve Policy – General Fund
1. The City will strive to maintain a minimum Budget Balance, of at least 8% and no greater than
12% of the current year operating revenues for the General Fund, excluding the carry forward
balance. The purpose of the budget balance is to meet temporary fluctuations in cash flows and
to provide a cushion for loss of revenues until operating changes can be implemented. If the
existing Budget Balance exceeds the required level, such funds may be used to provide for non-
recurring expenditures when the purchases cannot be accommodated through current year
savings or as otherwise designated by City Council. The City may use monies in the Budget
Balance only in times of fiscal and economic hardship.
2. Once achieved, at no time should the City’s budget balances fall below their specified
percentages. If a shortfall occurs in the budget balance and immediately restoring the balances
to the specified percentage would cause an extreme burden on the taxpayers, the budget balance
may, with the Mayor’s and City Council’s approval, be restored to the specified percentage
within one year, but in any case, no longer than three years.
3. The City will maintain a minimum reserve, in a contingency account, of at least 2% of the
current year operating revenues for the General Fund. The City may only use monies in the
contingency accounts to cover emergencies of a non-recurring nature that are over and above
the normal course of operations. Examples are uninsured losses, storms or hurricane damages.
The Contingency Reserve will not be used to balance the operating budget.
4
Página 5
4. The total of the General Fund budget and contingency balances shall not exceed 17% (~ 2
months) of Budgeted Operating Revenues.
5. The City will create a Capital Asset Replacement account for Governmental Fund asset
procurements. Optimally, the amount set aside for future asset replacements should equal the
annual depreciation of the current assets. The City will appropriate non-recurring excess
(amounts greater than budgeted) revenues, project savings, and project reimbursements to fund
this account, or if the balance is less than the $500,000 minimum, $200,000 per annum until
such time the minimum balance is replenished.
6. The City will create a General Capital Project Fund to account for all General Government
asset procurements and projects. The City will provide operating fund transfers and/or debt
proceeds for each fiscal year’s Capital Investment Plan. All vehicle and equipment purchases
under $25,000 will be budgeted on a pay as you go basis.
Budget Balance/Reserve Policy – Water/Wastewater Fund
1. The City will strive to maintain a minimum Budget Balance, of at least 8% and no greater than
17% (two months) of the current year operating revenues for each of the Water & Wastewater
Utility Funds, excluding the carry forward balance. The purpose of the budget balance is to
meet temporary fluctuations in cash flows and to provide a cushion for loss of revenues until
operating changes can be implemented. If the existing Budget Balance exceeds the required
level, such funds may be used to provide for non-recurring expenditures when purchases cannot
be accommodated through current year savings or as otherwise designated by City Council.
The City may use monies in the Budget Balance only in times of fiscal and economic hardship.
2. Once achieved, at no time should the City’s budget balances fall below their specified
percentages. If a shortfall occurs in the budget balance and immediately restoring the balances
to the specified percentage would cause an extreme burden on the ratepayers, the budget balance
may, with the Mayor’s and City Council’s approval, be restored to the specified percentage
within one year, but in any case, no longer than three years.
3. The City will maintain a minimum reserve, in a contingency account, of at least 2% of the
current year operating revenues for each the Water & Wastewater Fund. The City may only use
monies in the contingency accounts to cover emergencies of a non-recurring nature that are over
and above the normal course of operations. Examples are uninsured losses, storms or hurricane
damages. The Contingency Reserve will not be used to balance the operating budget.
4. The total of the combined Water & Wastewater Fund budget and contingency balances shall not
exceed 25% (3 months) of Budgeted Operating Revenues.
5. The City will maintain a Capital Asset Replacement account to cover replacement or
procurement of assets of the utility. Optimally, the amount set aside for future asset
replacements should equal the annual depreciation of the current assets. The City will maintain a
minimum balance of $500,000 for each utility for Capital Asset Replacements. The City will
appropriate non-recurring excess revenues to fund this account, or if the balance is less than the
minimum $100,000 per annum for each utility until such time the minimum balance is achieved.
5
Página 6
6. The City established by ordinance on December 17, 1996 the Wastewater Impact Fee Reserve to
provide for future expansion of the City’s wastewater system due to increased demand. The
ordinance further provides for debt service payments attributed to wastewater expansion
projects to be funded by the current year’s collection of Impact Fees and the remainder to be
deposited into the reserve account. The City shall maintain a minimum of 20% of wastewater
revenues in the Impact Fee Reserve account. Amounts used to finance projects shall be
replenished by the operating revenues of the Wastewater Fund over the succeeding seven years
of any project completion.
7. The City established by ordinance on February 1, 2008 the Water Impact Fee Reserve to
provide for future expansion of the City’s water system due to increased demand. The
ordinance further provides for debt service payments attributed to water expansion projects to be
funded by the current year’s collection of Impact Fees and the remainder to be deposited into
the reserve account. The City shall maintain a minimum of 20% of water revenues in the
Impact Fee Reserve account. Amounts used to finance projects shall be replenished by the
operating revenues of the Water Fund over the succeeding seven years of any project
completion.
8. The Water & Wastewater Improvement & Extension Fund budget balance shall be no less than
20% $200,000 of the current fiscal year’s appropriation for water and wastewater projects to
allow for project variances and change orders; a 10% contingency shall be included in project
budgets greater than $250,000 if the Department Head determines it to be appropriate. All
vehicle and equipment purchases under $25,000 will be budgeted on a pay as you go basis. The
City Manager shall make the necessary budget amendments in accordance with the City of
Dover Purchasing & Budget Amendment Policies.
Budget Balance/Reserve Policy – Electric Revenue Fund
1. The City will strive to maintain a minimum Budget Balance, of at least 8% and no greater than
12% (45 days) of the current year operating revenues for the Electric Revenue Fund, excluding
the carry forward balance. The purpose of the budget balance is to meet temporary fluctuations
in cash flows and to provide a cushion for loss of revenues until operating changes can be
implemented. If the existing Budget Balance exceeds the required level, such funds may be used
to provide for non-recurring expenditures when purchases cannot be accommodated through
current year savings or as otherwise designated by City Council. The City may use monies in
the Budget Balance only in times of fiscal and economic hardship.
2. Once achieved, at no time should the City’s budget balances fall below their specified
percentages. If a shortfall occurs in the budget balance and immediately restoring the balances
to the specified percentage would cause an extreme burden on the taxpayers, the budget balance
may, with the Mayor’s and City Council’s approval, be restored to the specified percentage
within one year, but in any case, no longer than three years.
3 The City will maintain a minimum reserve, in a contingency account, of at least 1% of the
current year operating revenues for the Electric Revenue Fund. The City may only use monies
in the contingency accounts to cover emergencies of a non-recurring nature that are over and
above the normal course of operations. Examples are uninsured losses, storms or hurricane
damages. The Contingency Reserve will not be used to balance the operating budget.
6
Página 7
4. The total of the combined Electric Revenue Fund budget and contingency balances shall not
exceed 25% (3 months) of Budgeted Operating Revenues.
5. The City has established by bond covenant an account to cover insurance deductibles on the
electric transmission and distribution system or the generating plants. The City shall maintain a
minimum balance of $350,000 to cover various deductibles.
6. The City has established a rate stabilization reserve to provide for price fluctuations in the
power markets. The funding source for this reserve shall consist of the following potential
sources: (a) one-time non-recurring operating revenues, (b) all or some of positive carry
forward balance variances, (c) annual appropriations if available. The balance shall be
maintained at a minimum of 3% not to exceed 10% of the purchase power cost in any given
year.
Recognizing price fluctuations in the wholesale power markets the City has established a rate
stabilization reserve. The purpose of using such a reserve is to level off the fluctuations in the
wholesale power supply market and in turn provide stable rates to our customers. In those
instances where the actual cost of power supply and generation are less/more than the budgeted
cost of power supply and generation, the City will transfer the difference to/from the Rate
Stabilization Reserve. The balance shall be maintained at a minimum of 3% not to exceed 10%
of the purchase power cost in any given year. If the reserve balance exceeds the 10% maximum,
a credit will be applied to the power cost adjustment.
7. The Electric Improvement & Extension Fund budget balance shall be no less than 20% $200,000
of the current fiscal year’s appropriation for electric system projects to allow for project
variances and change orders; a 10% contingency shall be included in project budgets greater
than $250,000 if the Department Head determines it to be appropriate. All vehicle and
equipment purchases under $25,000 will be budgeted on a pay as you go basis. The City
Manager shall make the necessary budget amendments in accordance with the City of Dover
Purchasing & Budget Amendment Policies.
8. The City has established an account to provide for capital financing of Future Capacity or
system expansion. The City shall maintain a balance equivalent to the value of 10% growth in
capacity at any given time, or no less than $10,000,000. Amounts used to finance projects shall
be replenished by the operating revenues of the Electric Revenue Fund over the succeeding
seven years of any project completion.
9. The City has established an account to provide for replacement or procurement of utility system
assets, otherwise known as Depreciation Reserve. Optimally, the amount set aside for future
asset replacements should equal the annual depreciation of the current assets. The City will
maintain a minimum balance of $10,000,000. The primary purpose of this account is to
provide partial or all financing of major capital projects and minimize debt service payments.
The account is also intended to cover unforeseen capital replacements due to equipment
breakdowns, storms or hurricane damages. Amounts used to finance projects shall be
replenished by the operating revenues of the Electric Revenue Fund over the succeeding seven
years of any project completion.
7
Página 8
10. The total of the combined Electric Revenue and Electric Improvement & Extension Fund budget
and reserve balances shall be benchmarked at 50% Budgeted Operating Revenues. Operating
Fund Budget Balance and Reserves shall be adjusted to appropriate levels through adjustments
in the operating budget. Improvement & Extension Fund Budget Balance and Reserves shall be
adjusted in accordance with the Capital Improvement Plan.
Investment and Cash Management Policy
1. The City will deposit all receipts on a timely basis in interest bearing accounts.
2. The City will strive to maximize the return on its investment portfolio without jeopardizing
principal amounts.
3. The City will limit its investments to the types of securities provided for by Delaware statutes.
4. The City will diversify its investments by maturity date to protect against market fluctuations.
5. The City will purchase securities from qualified institutions based on competitive bids in an
effort to obtain the highest available rates.
6. The City will maintain an Investment Policy based on prudent investment practices and will
monitor all investment managers’ compliance with policy objectives.
Capital Improvement Policy
1. The City will prepare and update, as needed a five-year Capital Improvements Program (CIP)
which will provide for the orderly maintenance, replacement, and expansion of capital assets.
2. The CIP will identify long-range capital projects and capital improvements of all types, which
will be coordinated with the annual operating budget to maintain full utilization of available
revenue sources.
3. When preparing the CIP, the City will seek to identify all viable capital projects and capital
improvements required during the subsequent five-year period. These projects and
improvements will be prioritized by year and by funding source.
4. Every attempt will be made to match projects and improvements with available funding sources.
Future operating costs and savings associated with a project or an improvement will also be
given consideration in the establishment of priorities.
5. The City will seek Federal, State, and other funding to assist in financing capital projects and
capital improvements.
6. The City will incorporate the reasonable findings and recommendations of other cities’ Boards,
Commissions, Committees, and Citizen Task Forces, as they relate to capital projects and
improvements.
8
Página 9
7. The City will seek input from the public by holding public hearings in relation to the
establishment of projects and project priorities.
Financial Reporting Policy
1. The City’s accounting system will maintain records in accordance with accounting standards
and principles outlined by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), Financial
Accounting Standards Board (FASB), and the State of Delaware.
2. The City will employ an independent accounting firm to perform an annual audit of the City’s
finances and make the annual audit available to all required and interested parties.
3. The City will produce monthly and quarterly financial statements reporting the current periods’
activity for all funds maintained by the City.
4. The City will prepare an annual budget document that provides a basic understanding of the
City’s planned financial operations for the coming fiscal year. Copies of the proposed and final
budget will be made available to all interested parties and opportunities will be provided for
citizen input prior to final decisions on the budget.
5. The City will place continued emphasis on review and maintenance of an accounting system
which provides strong internal budgetary and accounting controls designed to provide
reasonable assurance, but not absolute, assurance regarding:
(a) the safeguarding of assets against loss from unauthorized use or disposition and,
(b) the reliability of financial records for preparing financial statements and reports, and the
maintaining accountability for assets.
6. The City will seek annual renewal of the Government Finance Officers Association’s (GFOA)
Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting and the Distinguished Budget
Presentation Award.
Adoption:
1. Approval by City Council: January 28, 2002
2. Amended by City Council: November 25, 2002
3. Amended by City Council: May 10, 2004
4. Amended by City Council: February 26, 2007
5. Amended by City Council:
9
Página 10
ATTACHMENT #2
LF&A COMMITTEE MINUTES 07/14/2008
Presented by:
Janis Nesterak, CPA
Faw, Casson, & Company LLP
Donna Mitchell, CPA
City Controller
LF&A COMMITTEE MINUTES 07/14/2008
ATTACHMENT #2
Página 11
Three primary purposes
Matters to be communicated
Auditor’s responsibility
p
Planned scope and timing of audit
Significant findings from the audit
2
Página 12
To clearly communicate an overview of the
audit scope, the timing of the audit, and the
auditor’s responsibilities.
To provide itimely bobservations i
arising from
the audit that are relevant to oversight of the
financial reporting process.
To obtain relevant audit-related information
from those charged with governance.
3
Página 13
The auditor’s p
responsibilities under
generally accepted auditing standards.
This will be detailed in our engagement
g g
letter, a copy of which will be provided to
each audit committee member. See
enclosed g g
engagement letter dated June 16,
2008.
4
Página 14
An overview of the planned scope and timing
of the audit that is not so detailed as to
compromise audit effectiveness.
This will be summarized in a memo to the
committee and discussed with the committee
before commencement of the audit. See
enclosed Overview of Planned Scope and
Timing of the Audit dated June 30, 2008.
5
Página 15
The auditor’s views about findings or issues
that the auditor considers to be significant and
relevant to those charged with governance
regarding their oversight of the financial
g
reporting process.
These will be communicated near or at the end
of the audit.
6
Página 16
7
Página 17
Additional Resources Enclosed:
Article – A New Vision for Public Sector Audit Committees,
Government Finance Review, Stephen J. Gauthier, April 2007
An Elected Officials Guide – Audit Committees, Government
Finance Officers Association, Stephen J. Gauthier
8