2011 CAFR Executive Summary - Laserfiche WebLink

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Single Audit. As a recipient of federal and state financial assistance, the City also is responsible for ensuring that an adequate internal control structure is in place to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to those programs. This internal control structure is subject to periodic evaluation by management of the City. As part of the City's single audit described earlier, tests are performed to determine the adequacy of the internal control structure, including that portion related to federal financial assistance programs, as well as to determine that the City has complied with applicable laws and regulations. The results of the City's single audit for the year ended December 31, 2011 disclosed no instances of significant material weaknesses in the internal control structure and no significant violations of applicable laws and regulations. Budgetary Controls. In accordance with Indiana statutes, the City maintains budgetary controls integrated within the accounting system. The objective of these budgetary controls is to ensure compliance with legal provisions embodied in the annual appropriated budget (prepared on a cash basis) which is adopted by the City Common Council and then reviewed and approved by the State of Indiana Department of Local Government and Finance. Activities of the general fund, special revenue funds, capital project funds, enterprise funds, internal service funds, pension trust funds and debt service funds are included in the annual budget. The level of budgetary control (that is, the level at which expenditures cannot legally exceed the appropriated amount) is established by major budget classification within funds. The Mayor and Common Council may transfer appropriations from one major budget classification to another within a department by ordinance as long as the total appropriations for that fund are not exceeded. Transfers from one department to another, or additional appropriations in excess of the original budget, must be approved by the Mayor and Common Council and are also submitted to the Department of Local Government and Finance for either approval or acknowledgement (depending on the fund). Beginning in budget year 2009, the City must also submit its annual budget to the St. Joseph County Common Council for a non-binding review and recommendation. The City maintains an encumbrance accounting system as one technique of accomplishing budgetary control. Encumbered amounts do not lapse at year end and are carried over to the following year as a part of the subsequent year's budget. Property Tax Controls. In addition to budgetary and other controls established by Indiana statute, the City must operate within specific and rigid controls governing the amount of property tax it may levy. The property tax control program, which began in 1973, limits the amount of property tax that may be levied by each unit of government in its legally budgeted funds. The total amount of property tax levied by the unit may increase by the six year average annual growth in Indiana personal non-farm income, as calculated by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, with a 6% maximum. During March 2008, the State of Indiana General Assembly enacted property tax reform legislation which made significant changes in the property tax system by capping the amount of property taxes at 1% of grossed assessed value for residential homesteads, 2% for agricultural/rental properties and 3% for all other real and personal property. This legislation was phased in over a two year period beginning in 2009. The loss of revenue to the City due to 7