Audit Report 09.30.2001
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Financial Statements
Year Ended September 30, 2001
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Table of Contents
Year Ended September 30, 200 I
Page
Introductory Section
Title Page
Table of Contents
11
City Officials
111
Financial Section
Independent Auditor's Report
General Purpose Financial Statements
· Combined Balance Sheet - All Fund Types and Account Groups and
Discretely Presented Component Unit
· Combined Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes
in Fund Balances - All Governmental Fund Types
· Combined Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes
in Fund Balances - Budget and Actual (Budgetary Basis) - All Governmental
Fund Types
· Combined Statement of Changes in Plan Net Assets - Fiduciary Fund Type -
Pension Trust Funds and Discretely Presented Component Unit
· Notes to Financial Statements
IV-V
2-3
5
6-7
8
9-22
Combining and Individual Fund Financial Statements
Fiduciary Fund Type - Pension Trust Funds
· Combining Balance Sheet
· Combining Statement of Changes in Plan Net Assets
24
25
Additional Elements Required By Government Auditin2 Standards
and the Rules of the Auditor General
· Independent Auditor's Report on Compliance and on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting Based on an Audit of Financial Statements
Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards
· Independent Auditor's Management Letter
29-30
31-34
11
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I CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
I City Officials
I As of September 30, 200 I
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I James E. Kirk
Mayor, Chairman
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I Noel A. Chandler
Robert Oliver
I Dowling R. Watford, Jr.
D. Clayton Williams, Jr.
. Council Members
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John R. Cook
I City Attorney
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I Bill L. Veach
City Administrator
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I Bonnie S. Thomas, CMC
City Clerk
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I Lola Parker
I Account Supervisor
I Lois Keith Tomey II
I Chief of Fire
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Denny Davis
I Chief of Police
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I Donnie Robertson
Director of Public Wor1es
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I 111
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HOYMAN, DOBSON & COMPANY, P.A.
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
un 1 ,n:_"*""",.' . . v"
215 Boy tree Drive, Melbourne, Florida 32940, 32/-255-0088, Fox 32/-259-8648, www.hoyman.com
Charles W Haymon, jl
Barbara J Oswalt
Thomas L Kirk
Karen E. Kirkland
Deborah A. Bradley
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Roger W Dobson
Eugene K. Bjerning
Independent Auditor's Report
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
We have audited the accompanying general purpose financial statements of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, as
of and for the year ended September 30, 2001, as listed in the table of contents. These general purpose financial
statements are the responsibility of the City of Okeechobee, Florida's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these general purpose financial statements based on our audit. We did not audit the
financial statements of the fiduciary fund type and the discretely presented component unit. Those financial
statements were audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to us, and our opinion, insofar as it
relates to the amounts included for the fiduciary fund type and the discretely presented component unit, is based
on the reports of the other auditors.
Except as discussed in the following paragraph, we conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards
generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in
Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the general purpose
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the general purpose financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating
the overall general purpose financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit and the reports of other
auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Because of the inadequacy of the accounting records for the years prior to October 1, 1999, we were unable to
form an opinion regarding the amounts at which real property general fixed assets are recorded in the
accompanying Combined Balance Sheet - All Fund Types and Account Groups and Discretely Presented
Component Unit at September 30,2001.
In our opinion, based on our audit and the reports of other auditors, except for the effects of such adjustments, if
any, as might have been determined to be necessary in the Combined Balance Sheet - All Fund Types and Account
Groups and Discretely Presented Component Unit had records concerning general fixed assets been adequate, the
general purpose financial statements referred to in the first paragraph present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial position of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, as of September 30, 2001, and the results of its operations for
the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
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. American Institute of Certified Public Accountants' Florida institute of Certified Public Accountants' SEC Practice Section of the A I. C. PA . CPAmerico international
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Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
Page Two
As described in Note 3.E. to the financial statements, in the previous year the City reported a capital lease as an
operating lease.
In accordance with Government Auditing Stllndards, we have also issued our report dated January 11, 2002 on
our consideration of the City of Okeechobee, Florida's internal control over financial reporting and our tests of
its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grants. That report is an integral part
of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and should be read in conjunction
with this report in considering the results of our audit.
Our audit was performed for the purpose of forming an opinion on the general purpose financial statements taken
as a whole. The combining and individual fund financial statements, listed in the table of contents, are presented
for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the general purpose financial statements of the
City of Okeechobee, Florida and we express no opinion on these statements because they were audited by other
auditors as indicated in the first paragraph.
#~/~;~/~.4
Hoyman, Dobson & Company, P.A.
January 11, 2002
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GENERAL PURPOSE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
These basic financial statements provide a summary overview of the financial
position of all funds and account groups and discretely presented component unit
as well as the operating results of all funds. They also serve as an introduction to
the more detailed statements that are in the following subsections.
1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement.
2
GOVERNMENT
COMPONENT Totals Reporting
Account Groups Totals UNIT Entity
General
General General Long- (Memorandum Employees' (Memorandum
Fixed Assets Term Debt Only) Pension Trust Only)
$ $ $ 5,128,260 $ 163,940 $ 5,292,200
4,105,203 2,971,425 7,076,628
172,827 45,361 218,188
160,134 160,134
12,720 12,720
8,272 7,696 15,968
3,636,752 3,636,752 3,636,752
73,472 73,472 73,472
1,186,853 1,186,853 1,186,853
$ 3,636,752 $ 1,260,325 $ 14,484,493 $ 3,188,422 $ 17,672,915
$ $ $ 32,992 $ 5,868 $ 38,860
33,352.00 33,352
2,012 2,012
26,954 26,954
1,260,325 1,260,325 1,260,325
1,260,325 1,355,635 5,868 1,361,503
3,636,752 3,636,752 3,636,752
349,022 349,022
12,720 12,720
73,472 73,472
609,930 609,930
19,734 19,734
4,457,357 3,182,554 7,639,911
3,969,871 3,969,871
3,636,752 13,128,858 3,182,554 16,311,412
$ 3,636,752 $ 1,260,325 $ 14,484,493 $ 3,188,422 $ 17,672,915
3
TIllS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFf BLANK.
4
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Combined Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances-
All Governmental Fund Types
Year Ended September 30, 200 I
Law Totals
Enforcement (Memorandum
General Special Revenue Only)
Revenues
Taxes $ 1,995,097 $ $ 1,995,097
Intergovernmental 1,474,928 1,474,928
Charges for services 246,792 246,792
Licenses and permits 140,604 140,604
Fines and forfeitures 32,925 7,050 39,975
Interest income 264,967 490 265,457
Miscellaneous 14,342 14,342
Total revenues 4,169,655 7,540 4,177,195
Expenditures
Current:
General government 723,204 723,204
Public safety 1,716,830 1,002 1,717,832
Transportation 495,099 495,099
Physical environment 176,102 176,102
Capital outlay 1,386,024 7,246 1,393,270
Debt service:
Principal 588,022 588,022
Interest 47,538 47,538
Total expenditures 5,132,819 8,248 5,141,067
Deficiency of revenues under
expenditures (963,164) (708) (963,872)
Other financing sources
Capital lease proceeds 406,700 406,700
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 387,410 387,410
Total other financing sources 794,110 794,110
Deficiency of revenues and other
financing sources under expenditures (169,054) (708) (169,762)
Fund balances, beginning of year (as restated) 5,184,069 20,442 5,204,511
Fund balances, end of year $ 5,015,015 $ 19,734 $ 5,034,749
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this finncial statement.
5
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Combined Statement of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balances-
Budget and Actual (Budgetary Basis) - All Governmental Fund Types
Year Ended September 30, 2001
General
Actual Variance
(on Budgetary Favorable
Budget Basis) (Unfavorable)
Revenues
Taxes $ 1,888,180 $ 1,995,097 $ 106,917
Intergovernmental 1,298,911 1,474,928 176,017
Charges for services 240,780 246,792 6,012
Licenses and permits 100,202 140,604 40,402
Fines and forfeitures 33,875 32,925 (950)
Interest income 215,300 264,967 49,667
Miscellaneous 9,100 14,342 5,242
Total revenues 3,786,348 4,169,655 383,307
Expenditures
Current:
General government 756,366 753,726 2,640
Public safety 1,915,787 1,716,830 198,957
Transportation 570,164 488,845 81,319
Physical environment 186,133 176,102 10,031
Capital outlay 1,006,414 1,397,449 (391,035)
Debt service
Principal 192,791 588,022 (395,231)
Interest 46,574 47,538 (964)
Total expenditures 4,674,229 5,168,512 (494,283)
Excess (deficiency) of revenues over (under)
expenditures (887,881) (998,857) (110,976)
Other financing sources
Capital lease proceeds 406,700 406,700
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 5,000 387,410 382,410
Total other financing sources 5,000 794,110 789,110
Deficiency of revenues and other financing
sources under expenditures (882,881 ) (204,747) 678,134
Fund balances, beginning of year (as restated) 5,184,069 5,184,069
Fund balances, end of year $ 4,301,188 4,979,322 $ 678,134
Reconciliation of budgetary to GAAP basis:
Current year encumbrances 349,022
Prior year encumbrances (313,329)
$ 5,015,015
The accompanying notes are an integral part of this financial statement. 6
Law Enforcement Special Revenue
Actual Variance
(on Budgetary Favorable
Budget Basis) (Unfavorable)
Totals (Memorandum Only)
Actual Variance
(on Budgetary Favorable
Budget Basis) (Unfavorable)
$
$
$
5,125
7,540
2,415
$ 1,888,180 $ 1,995,097 $ 106,917
1,298,911 1,474,928 176,017
240,780 246,792 6,012
100,202 140,604 40,402
38,875 39,975 1,100
215,425 265,457 50,032
9,100 14,342 5,242
3,791,473 4,177,195 385,722
5,000
125
7,050
490
2,050
365
756,366 753,726 2,640
1,002 (1,002) 1,915,787 1,717,832 197,955
570,164 488,845 81,319
186,133 176,102 10,031
7,246 (7,246) 1,006,414 1,404,695 (398,281)
192,791 588,022 (395,231)
46,574 47,538 (964)
8,248 (8,248) 4,674,229 5,176,760 (502,531)
5,125 (708) (5,833) (882,756) (999,565) (116,809)
406,700 406,700
5,000 387,410 382,410
5,000 794,110 789,110
5,125 (708) (5,833) (877,756) (205,455) 672,301
20,442 20,442 5,204,511 5,204,511
$ 25,567 19,734 $ (5,833) $ 4,326,755 4,999,056 $ 672,301
349,022
(313,329)
$ 19,734 $ 5,034,749
7
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Combined Statement of Changes in Plan Net Assets
Fiduciary Fund Type - Pension Trust Funds and Discretely Presented Component Unit
Year Ended September 30,2001
Totals
PRIMARY COMPONENT Reporting
GOVERNMENT UNIT Entity
General
Pension Employees (Memorandum
Trust Pension Trust Only)
Additions
Contributions
State $ 145,427 $ $ 145,427
Employer 600 75,293 75,893
Employee 56,290 109,256 165,546
Total contributions 202,317 184,549 386,866
Investment income
Net depreciation in fair value of investments (960,482) (692,259) (1,652,741)
Interest and dividends 152,118 110,199 262,317
(808,364) (582,060) (1,390,424)
Less investment expense (34,674) (25,014) (59,688)
Net investment income (843,038) (607,074) (1,450,112)
Total additions (640,721) (422,525) (1,063,246)
Deductions
Benefits paid to participants 108,785 90,714 199,499
Refunds on termination 17,933 57,066 74,999
Administrative expenses 16,825 9,671 26,496
Total deductions 143,543 157,451 300,994
Net decrease (784,264) (579,976) (1,364,240)
Net assets held in trust for
pension benefits, beginning of year 5,241,621 3,762,530 9,004,151
Net assets held in trust for
pension benefits, end of year $ 4,457,357 $ 3,182,554 $ 7,639,911
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
8
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,2001
NOTE CONTENTS PAGE
1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A. Reporting Entity 10
B. Basis of Presentation-Fund Accounting 10
C. Basis of Accounting 11
D. Budgetary Data 12
E. Assets, Liabilities, and Fund Equity 13
F. Memorandum Only Total Columns 14
2. STEW ARDSIllP, COMPLIANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
A. Budgetary Compliance 14
B. Budgeted Expenditures in Excess of Budgeted Revenues 14
C. Excess of Expenditures Over Appropriations 15
3. DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS
A. Deposits and Investments 15
B. Receivables 17
C. Property Taxes 17
D. Changes in General Fixed Assets 18
E. Capital Leases 18
F. Long-Term Debt 19
G. Defeased Debt 19
H. Retirement Commitments 20
4. RESTATEMENT OF FUND EQUITY 22
5. RISK MANAGEMENT 22
6. COMMITMENTS 22
7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS 22
9
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,2001
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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The City ofOkeechobee (the City) was originally incorporated in 1915 and its present charter was adopted in 1919
under Chapter 8318 of Special Acts of 1919. The City operates under the council form of government and provides
the following services: general government, public safety, transportation, and physical environment.
The accounting policies of the City conform to generally accepted accounting principles as applicable to
governmental units. The following is a summary of the more significant accounting policies.
A. REPORTING ENTITY
As required by generally accepted accounting principles, these financial statements present the primary
government and its component units. Blended component units, although legally separate entities, are, in
substance, part of the government's operations and so data from these units are combined with data of the
primary government. Discretely presented component units are entities that are legally separate from the City,
but whose relationship with the City are such that the exclusion would cause the City's financial statements to be
misleading or incomplete. The financial data of these entities are reported in a separate column in the combined
financial statements.
Blended Component Units
City of Okeechobee Municipal Police Officers' Pension Trust Fund and City of Okeechobee Municipal
Firefighters' Pension Trust Fund - The City's public safety employees participate in one of two public safety
employees retirement systems. Each single employer plan functions for the benefit of the City's public safety
employees and is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Police Officers' and Firefighters' Pension Trust Funds
were established by City Ordinances Nos. 657 and 656, respectively, as amended and restated by City
Ordinances Nos. 749 and 750, respectively.
Discretely Presented Component Unit
City of Okeechobee and Okeechobee Utility Authority Employees' Retirement System - Substantially all of the
City's general employees and the employees of the Okeechobee Utility Authority participate in this cost sharing,
multiple employer public employee retirement system. The plan was established by City Ordinance No. 655, as
amended and restated by City Ordinance No. 686.
B. BASIS OF PRESENTATION - FUND ACCOUNTING
The accounts of the City are organized and operated on the basis of funds and account groups. A fund is a separate
accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts. An account group is a fmancial reporting device designed to
provide accountability for certain assets and liabilities that are not recorded in the funds because they do not directly
affect net expendable available fmancial resources.
The funds of the City are classified into two categories: governmental and fiduciary.
10
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2001
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
B. BASIS OF PRESENTATION - FuND ACCOUNTING (CONTINUED)
Governmental Fund Types
General Fund - The general fund is the City's primary operating fund. It accounts for all financial resources of the
general government, except those required to be accounted for in another fund.
Special Revenue Fund - A special revenue fund is used to account for revenues that are legally restricted to finance
particular functions or activities of the government.
Fiduciary Fund Type
Pension Trust Funds - The pension trust funds account for the assets held in trust for employee pension benefits.
The discretely presented component unit is accounted for as a fiduciary fund.
Account Groups
The following is a description of the City's account groups:
General Fixed Assets Account Group - This account group represents a summary of the property and equipment
of the City other than infrastructure. Capital outlay in the General Fund is recorded as an expenditure of that fund at
the time of purchase and is subsequently recorded, at cost, for control purposes in this account group.
General Long-Term Debt Account Group - Long-term liabilities expected to be financed from the General Fund
are accounted for in this account group.
The accounting and financial reporting applied to a fund is determined by its measurement purpose.
Governmental funds are accounted for using a current financial resources measurement focus. Only current
assets and current liabilities are included on the balance sheet. All pension trust funds are accounted for on a
flow of economic resources measurement focus. All assets and all liabilities associated with the operation of
these funds are included on the balance sheet.
C. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
Basis of accounting refers to the point at which revenues and expenditures or expenses are recognized in the
accounts and reported in the financial statements. Basis of accounting relates to the timing of the measurements
made, regardless of the measurement focus applied.
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 200 I
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
C. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING-(CONTINUED)
1. Modified Accrual
Governmental funds are accounted for using the modified accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recognized as
soon as they become measurable and available. Revenues are considered to be "available" when they are collectible
within the current period or soon enough thereafter to pay liabilities of the current period. The City considers
revenues to be available if they are collected within sixty days of the end of the current fiscal period. Property tax
revenue is recognized in the fiscal year for which the taxes have been levied, provided the availability criteria have
been met.
Expenditures are generally recognized under the modified accrual basis of accounting when the related fund liability
is incurred. An exception to this general rule is principal and interest on general long-term debt which is recognized
when due.
2. Accrual
All pension trust funds (including the discretely presented component unit) are accounted for using the accrual basis
of accounting. Revenues are recognized when they are earned and expenses are recognized when incurred. Plan
member contributions are recognized in the period in which the contributions are due. Employer contributions are
recognized when due and the employer has made a formal commitment to provide the contributions. Benefits and
refunds are recognized when due and payable in accordance with the terms of the plan.
D. BUDGETARY DATA
1. Budget Policy
The City Council adopts an annual budget ordinance for all governmental funds prior to September 30 for the next
ensuing fiscal year. The budget is prepared on a modified accrual basis except encumbrances are presented as
expenditures. Unencumbered appropriations lapse at fiscal year end.
Budgetary control is legally maintained at the department level. Budget transfer authority is provided to the City
Administrator within departments. Revisions to budgeted totals of any department require approval of the City
Council.
2. Encumbrances
Encumbrances represent commitments related to unperformed contracts for goods and services. Encumbrances
outstanding at year-end are recorded to reserve that portion of the applicable appropriation.
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CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2001
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
E. ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND FUND EQUITY
1. Cash
The City's cash includes cash on hand, demand and time deposits, money market funds, and State Board of
Administration (SBA) accounts.
Investment of public funds with the State Board of Administration is governed by Section 218.407, Florida Statutes.
These investments consist primarily of Federal agency obligations, repurchase agreements, bankers' acceptances,
U.S. treasury bills, bonds and notes, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit. The SBA has adopted operating
procedures consistent with Regulation 2a-7. The pool is regulated by the State and the fair value of the position in
the pool is the same as the share value of the pool share.
2. Investments
Pension trust fund investments (including the discretely presented component unit) are reported at fair value. Short-
term investments are reported at cost, which approximates market value. Securities traded on a national exchange
are valued at the last reported sales price.
3. Fixed Assets
Fixed assets used in the General Fund are accounted for at historical cost, if purchased, and at fair market value at
date of gift, if donated, in the General Fixed Assets Account Group, rather than in the General Fund. Public domain
general fixed assets consisting of certain improvements including roads, bridges, curbs and gutters, streets and
sidewalks, drainage systems and lighting systems are not capitalized as general fixed assets. No depreciation has
been provided for assets accounted for in the General Fixed Assets Account Group.
4. Compensated Absences
It is the government's policy to permit employees to accumulate earned but unused vacation and sick pay benefits.
Vacation pay that is expected to be liquidated with expendable available financial resources is reported as an
expenditure of the General Fund. Amounts not expected to be liquidated with expendable available financial
resources and vested sick pay are reported in the General Long-Term Debt Account Group.
Full-time employees accrue paid vacation ranging from 6 days after 6 months of continuous service, up to 20
days after 15 years of service. Unused vacation will be paid up to a maximum of 240 hours upon termination of
employment. Sick leave for employees is accumulated at the rate of 12 days per year. Payment for unused sick
leave upon termination of employment may be made for employees with 10 years or more of continuous service
at a rate of 50% of the unused sick leave balance.
13
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 200 I
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
E. ASSETS, LIABILITIES, AND FUND EQUITY (CONTINUED)
5. Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue includes amounts collected before the revenue recognition criteria are met and receivables
which, under the modified accrual basis of accounting, are measurable but not yet available. The City's deferred
revenue consists primarily of occupational license fees.
6. Long-Term Obligations
Long-term debt is recognized as a liability of a governmental fund when due. For other long-term obligations, only
that portion expected to be fmanced from expendable fmancial resources is reported as a fund liability of a
governmental fund. The remaining portion of such obligations is reported in the General Long-term Debt Account
Group.
7. Fund Equity - Reserves
Reserves represent those portions of fund equity not appropriable for expenditure or legally segregated for a specific
use. All of the available assets of the fiduciary funds and the discretely presented component unit are reserved by
definition for the purpose for which the funds were created.
F. MEMORANDUM ONLY TOTAL COLUMNS
Total columns on the combined statements are captioned "Memorandum Only" to indicate that they are presented
only to facilitate financial analysis. Data in these columns does not present financial position or results of
operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Such data is not comparable to a
consolidation. Interfund eliminations have not been made in the aggregation of this data.
NOTE 2 - STEW ARDSIllP, COMPLIANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY
A. BUDGETARY COMPLIANCE
The City's budgetary data and actual data are presented on the modified accrual basis for the General and Law
Enforcement Special Revenue Funds except that encumbrances are included as expenditures of the current period
for the budget to actual comparison.
B. BUDGETED EXPENDITURES IN EXCESS OF BUDGETED REVENUES
The City's budgeted expenditures exceeded budgeted revenues in the General Fund; however, this is pursuant to the
legally adopted budget to expend available fund equity and does not constitute a budget deficit.
14
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2001
NOTE 2 - STEW ARDSIDP, COMPLIANCE, AND ACCOUNTABILITY (CONTINUED)
\
C. EXCESSOFEXPENDnITrnESOVERAPPROPRlATIONS
Expenditures exceeded appropriations in the General Fund and the Law Enforcement Special Revenue Fund. These
overexpenditures were funded by greater than anticipated other financing sources in the General Fund and available
fund equity in the Special Revenue Fund.
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS
A. DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS
Banks and savings and loans must meet the criteria to be a qualified public depository as described in the Florida
Security for Public Deposits Act in accordance with Chapter 280, Florida Statutes before any investment of public
funds can be made with them. At year end, the carrying amount of the City's (Primary Government) deposits was
$3,707,112 and the bank balance was $3,805,424. The canying amount and bank balance of the discretely
presented component unit's deposits was $24,618. Monies invested in amounts greater than the FDIC insurance
coverage are secured by the banks pledging securities with the State Treasurer in the multiple financial institutions
collateral pool.
The investment of municipal funds is authorized by local ordinance and Florida Statutes which allow the City to
invest in the Local Government Surplus Funds Trust Fund or any intergovernmental investment pool authorized
pursuant to the Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act, SEC registered money market funds with the highest credit
quality rating, interest-bearing time deposits or savings accounts in qualified public depositories, direct obligations
of the U.S. Treasury, commercial paper with certain ratings, pre-refunded municipal obligations, banker's
acceptances maturing within one year, investment agreements, direct and general long-term and short-term
obligations of any state with proper credit rating and full faith and credit pledge, rnunicipal obligations with
proper credit rating and repurchase agreements with maturities of 30 days or less with organizations with certain
stipulations and requirements.
The Primary Government's pension trust funds are authorized to invest in annuity and life insurance contracts;
insured time or savings accounts of banks, saving and loan associations, and credit unions; obligations of the U.S
Government or agencies thereof; bonds issued by the State of Israel; stocks, commingled funds administered by
national or state banks, mutual funds, bonds, or other evidences of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by a
corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state or organized territory of the United States, or
the District of Columbia; foreign securities up to 10% of the fund assets; and real estate, provided the cost is no
more than 10%.
The City of Okeechobee and the Okeechobee Utility Authority Employees' Retirement System (Discretely
Presented Component Unit) is authorized to invest in annuity and life insurance contracts; insured time or savings
accounts of banks or savings and loan associations; obligations of the U.S Government or agencies thereof; bonds
issued by the State of Israel; and bonds, stocks, commingled funds administered by national or state banks, or other
evidences of indebtedness issued or guaranteed by a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any
state or organized territory of the United States, or the District of Columbia, provided the security is traded on a
nationally recognized exchange and holds a rating in one of the three highest classifications.
15
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,2001
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (CONTINUED)
A. DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
The Primary Government's and Discretely Presented Component Unit's investments are categorized to give an
indication of the level of risk assumed at year end. Those investments assigned a credit risk under Category 1
include investments that are insured or registered, or securities that are held by the entity or its agent in the entity's
name. Category 2 includes uninsured and unregistered investments with the securities being held by the
counterparty's trust department or agent in the entity's name. Category 3 includes uninsured and unregistered
investments with the securities being held by the counterparty, or by its trust department or agent but not in the
entity's name.
As of September 30,2001, the fair value and category of credit risk ofthe City's investments are as follows:
Primary Government
Investments:
Government and agency
securities
Corporate bonds
Corporate stocks
1
Categories of Credit Risk
2
3
Fair
Value
$
$
$
1,169,831
642,807
2,292,565
4,105,203
$ 1,169,831
642,807
2,292,565
$ 4,105,203
$
$
$
Investments not subject to
categorization:
Investments with State
Board of Administration
Money market funds
Total Investments
1,172,106
248,893
5,526,202
$
Discretely Presented Component Unit
Investments:
Government and agency
securities
Corporate bonds
Corporate stocks
1
Categories of Credit Risk
2
3
Fair
Value
$
$
$
845,450
455,910
1,670,065
2,971,425
$
845,450
455,910
1,670,425
2,971,425
$
$
$
$
Investments not subject to
categorization:
Money market funds
Total Investments
$
139,322
3,110,747
16
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,2001
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (CONTINUED)
\
A. DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS (CONTINUED)
These deposits and investments are reflected on the accompanying balance sheet in the following classifications:
Cash
Less cash on hand
Total Cash
$
5,292,200
(149)
5,292,051
7,076,628
12,368,679
Investments
Total Cash and Investments - Reporting Entity
$
B. RECEIVABLES
Receivables as of September 30,2001, including the applicable allowance for uncollectible accounts, are as
follows:
Total Primary Component
General Fund Pension Trust Government Unit
FranchiselUtility taxes $ 107,950 $ $ 107,950 $
Garbage 21,449 21,449
Contributions 3,698 3,698 26,688
Other 14,787 14,787
Interest 10,785 27,158 37,943 18,673
154,971 30,856 185,827 45,361
Less allowance (13,000) (13,000)
Receivables, net $ 141,971 $ 30,856 $ 172,827 $ 45,361
C. PROPERTY TAXES
The City's property tax is levied annually on the real and personal property located in the City on January 1st of
the prior year. Tax collections by the Okeechobee County tax collector begin in November of each year with a
due date of March 31 of the following year. All property taxes remaining unpaid at May 30 are subject to a tax
certificate sale.
The City Council determines the millage rates and adopts a tax levy by resolution prior to September 30 to fund the
next ensuing fiscal year's budget. The assessment of all properties and collection of municipal taxes are provided by
the County's property appraiser and tax collector.
The City is permitted by state law to levy taxes up to 10 mills of assessed valuation for the General Fund. The tax
rate for the fiscal year was 5.9399 mills.
17
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2001
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (CONTINUED)
-
D. CHANGES IN GENERAL FIXED ASSETS
A summary of changes in general fIxed assets follows:
Balance
Oct. 1, 2000 Disposals! Other
(Restated) Additions Retirements Adjustments
Land and improvements $ 818,489 $ 36,869 $ $
Buildings 639,024 571,905
Equipment and furniture 1,497,338 536,682 (487,789) 24,234
$ 2,954,851 $ 1,145,456 $ (487,789) $ 24,234
E. CAPITAL LEASES
Balance
Sept. 30,
2001
$ 855,358
1,210,929
1,570,465
$ 3,636,752
In fIscal year 2000, the City purchased vehicles under a master lease agreement it had with a fInancial institution.
The lease called for eight quarterly payments of $15,000 with the balance to be paid in March 2002. In fIscal year
2001, the City sold the vehicles and paid off the balance of the lease. This lease was recorded as an operating lease
for the fIscal year ended September 30,2000. In accordance with FASB Technical Bulletin No. 79-10, the master
lease agreement's fIscal funding clause does not prohibit the lease from being capitalized if it meets the other
requirements of a capital lease. Therefore, the October 1, 2001 balances in the changes in general fIxed assets (Note
3.D.) and changes in long term debt (Note 3.F.) have been restated to reflect the capitalization of this vehicle lease.
The City entered into a new lease/purchase agreement for the purchase of City vehicles during the current year. The
lease is for fIve years at 4.74% interest, with nineteen quarterly payments of $15,000 and the balance due in March
2006. This lease is accounted for in the General Long Term Debt Account Group and the vehicles have been
recorded in the General Fixed Asset Account Group in the amount of $406,700.
The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments under this capital lease:
Year ending September 30,
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
Total minimum lease payments
Less amount representing interest
Present value of net minimum lease payments
$ 60,000
60,000
60,000
60,000
189,644
429,644
(58,783)
$ 370,861
Capital lease payments for fIscal year 2001 totaled $415,483, including the early payoff of the fIscal year 2000
lease.
18
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2001
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (CONTINUED)
F. LONG-TERM DEBT
Notes payable as of September 30, 2001 are as follows:
5.25% gas tax revenue note to a bank, payment of $99,682, including interest,
due semi-annually through December 30, 2004; collateralized by and payable
from a pledge of the City's share of the local option gas tax, municipal tax on
motor fuels and motor fuel rebate
5.527% note to a bank, payment of $40,000, including interest, due annually
through October 1, 2003 with final payment due October 2004 of $27,171;
collateralized by annually budgeted non-ad valorem revenues
$ 630,078
$ 129,664
$ 759,742
Notes payable debt service requirements to maturity, including interest, are as follows:
Year ending
September 30,
2002
2003
2004
2005
Gas Tax
Revenue
$ 168,472
177,433
186,843
97,330
$ 630,078
Municipal
Promissory
$ 32,827
34,641
36,556
25,640
$ 129,664
Interest
$ 38,066
27,291
15,966
3,980
$ 85,303
$
Total
239,365
239,365
239,365
126,950
845,045
$
A summary of changes in long-term debt for the year ended September 30, 2001 is as follows:
Balance
Oct. 1, 2000
(restated)
Addition
Reductions
Balance
Sept. 30, 2001
Notes payable
Capital leases payable
Compensated absences
Total
$
950,808
361,117
149,830
1,461,755
$
$ (191,066)
(396,956)
(20,108)
$ (608,130)
$
759,742
370,861
129,722
1,260,325
406,700
$
$
406,700
$
G. DEFEASED DEBT
The Water and Sewer Refunding and Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 1987, the Water and Sewer
Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 1989, and the Water and Sewer Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 1992A
were defeased on September 28, 1995 upon the transfer of the water and sewer system to the Okeechobee Utility
Authority. Monies were deposited in an irrevocable trust to provide for all future debt service payments on these
bonds. Accordingly, trust assets and liabilities for the defeased bonds are not included in the City's financial
statements. On September 30, 2001, $500,000 of bonds outstanding are considered defeased.
19
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,2001
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (CONTINUED)
-
H. RETIREMENT COMMITMENTS'
Pension Plans - Primary Government
Plan Descriptions - The City contributes to two single-employer defined benefit pension plans: City of Okeechobee
Municipal Police Officers' Pension Trust Fund and City ofOkeechobee Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust Fund
(the Plans). The Plans provide retirement, disability, and death benefits to plan members and their beneficiaries.
Chapters 185 and 175 of the Florida Statutes establish the minimum benefits and the minimum standards for the
operation and funding of the Police Officers' and the Firefighters' Municipal Pension Trust Funds, respectively. Per
City Ordinances Nos. 750 and 749, sole responsibility for administering the Plans is vested in the Board of Trustees
of each plan. The Boards cannot amend the provisions of the plans without the approval of the City. The Plans
issue publicly available financial reports that include financial statements and required supplementary information.
Those reports are available from the City of Okeechobee, Florida, 55 S.E. Third Avenue, Okeechobee, Florida
34974.
Funding Policy - The contribution requirements of plan members and the City are established and may be amended
by City ordinance. Plan members are required to contribute 5% of their annual covered salary for the Police
Officers' and Firefighters' Municipal Trust Funds. The City is required to contribute an amount equal to the
difference in each year between the total aggregate member contributions for the year, plus state contributions for
such year, and the normal cost for the year, as shown by the most recent actuarial valuation of the plan; the current
rate is 10.84% and 4.15% of annual covered payroll for the Police Officers' and Firefighters' plans, respectively.
The City recognized as revenues and expenditures on-behalf payments relating to pension contributions for its
public safety employees that the State of Florida paid to the Police Officers' and Firefighters' Plans in the amounts
of $91,386 and $54,041, respectively. These contributions are funded by an excise tax upon certain casualty
insurance companies on their gross receipts of premiums from policy holders.
Annual Pension Cost - The annual required pension contributions for the Plans were determined as part of the
October 1, 2000 actuarial valuations using the aggregate actuarial cost method. The aggregate actuarial cost method
does not identify or separately amortize unfunded actuarial liabilities. The actuarial assumptions included (a) 7%
investment rate of return (net of administrative expenses) and (B) projected salary increases of 6% for the Police
Officer's Trust and 7% for the Firefighter's Trust. Both (a) and (b) included an inflation component of 4%. The
actuarial value of assets was determined using a method which recognizes actual investment return in excess of the
assumed return evenly over a four year period.
20
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30, 2001
NOTE 3 - DETAIL NOTES - ALL FUNDS AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (CONTINUED)
.
H. RETIREMENT COMMITMENTS (CONTINUED)
Three-year trend information
Municipal Police Officers'
Annual Percentage Net
Year Pension OfAPC Pension
Ending Cost (APe) Contributed Obligation
9/30/99 $ 65,916 134 % $ (400,733)
9/30/00 93,469 95 (396,334)
9/30/01 74,693 122 (413,027)
9/30/99 $ 688 7696 % $ (238,853)
9/30/00 17,412 348 (282,120)
9/30/01 15,194 360 (321,567)
Municipal Firefighters'
Pension Plan - Discretely Presented Component Unit
Plan Description - The City contributes to the City of Okeechobee and Okeechobee Utility Authority Employees'
Retirement System (the System), a cost-sharing multiple employer defined benefit pension plan administered by
the System's Board of Trustees. The System provides retirement, disability, and death benefits to plan members
and their beneficiaries. The Board of Trustees is authorized by City Ordinance No. 686 to establish and amend all
plan provisions. The System issues a publicly available financial report that includes financial statements and
required supplementary information. That report is available from the City of Okeechobee, Florida, 55 S.E. Third
Avenue, Okeechobee, Florida 34974.
Funding Policy - The contribution requirements of the plan members and the City are established and may be
amended by City ordinance. Plan members are required to contribute 6% of their covered annual salary. The City
is required to contribute at an actuarially determined rate; the current rate is 4.13 % of covered payroll. The City's
contributions for the years ending September 30, 2001, 2000, and 1999 were $25,156, $16,817,and $15,147,
respectively, and were equal to the required contributions for each year.
21
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Notes to Financial Statements
September 30,2001
NOTE 4 - RESTATEMENT OF FUND EQUITY
City Ordinance No. 758 established a 'separate law enforcement fund for the deposit of law enforcement
administrative fees collected by virtue of Resolution No. 98-13 and funds obtained through the forfeiture
procedures as set out in Florida Statute 932.701et.seq. The funds that had previously been reported as part of the
General Fund are now reported in a special revenue fund. This results in a restatement of the beginning fund
balances as follows:
Beginning fund balances, as previously reported
Adjustment
Beginning fund balances, as restated
General Fund
$ 5,204,511
(20,442)
$ 5,184,069
NOTE 5 - RISK MANAGEMENT
The City is exposed to various risks of loss, including, but not limited to theft, damage or destruction of its
buildings, equipment, records, and monetary assets, and liability for personal injury, property damage, and
consequences of employee and public official actions. The City participates in a non-assessable public risk pool to
cover significant loss exposure and purchases commercial insurance for third party pollution liability coverage. The
pool maintains a loss reserve and purchases specific excess insurance, aggregate excess insurance, and multiple loss
coverage from commercial carriers and underwriters. If losses in anyone fiscal year extinguish all available funds
provided by the pool, then the members are individually responsible for the claims. Settlement amounts have not
exceeded coverage for the current year or the three prior years.
NOTE6-COMNUTMENTS
In September 2001, the City Council approved a construction contract for roadway improvements in the amount
of$291,650.
NOTE 7 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
In December, the City entered into a new vehicle lease with a financial institution and purchased vehicles for
$410,550 from a relative of one of the Council members. The City sold its current vehicles and paid off the
related lease commitment.
22
r
COMBINING AND INDIVIDUAL FUND STATEMENTS
These financial statements provide a more detailed view of the "General Purpose
Financial Statements" presented in the preceding subsection.
Combining statements are presented when there is more than one fund of a given
fund type.
23
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Combining Balance Sheet
Fiduciary Fund Type - Pension Trust Funds
Year Ended September 30, 2001
Municipal
Police Municipal
Officers' Firefighters' Totals
ASSETS
Cash $ 219,250 $ 103,173 $ 322,423
Investments 2,934,580 1,170,623 4,105,203
Receivables 22,142 8,714 30,856
Prepaids 8,272 8,272
Total assets $ 3,184,244 $ 1,282,510 $ 4,466,754
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
Liabilities
Accounts payable $ 5,914 $ 3,483 $ 9,397
Fund Balances
Reserved for pension benefits 3,178,330 1,279,027 4,457,357
Total liabilities and fund balances $ 3,184,244 $ 1,282,510 $ 4,466,754
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
24
CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA
Combining Statement of Changes in Plan Net Assets
Fiduciary Fund Type - Pension Trust Funds
Year Ended September 30, 2001
Municipal
Police Municipal
Officers' Firefighters' Totals
Additions
Contributions
State $ 91,386 $ 54,041 $ 145,427
Employer 600 600
Employee 42,010 14,280 56,290
Total contributions 133,396 68,921 202,317
Investment income
Net depreciation in fair value of investments (687,767) (272,715) (960,482)
Interest and dividends 108,966 43,152 152,118
(578,801) (229,563) (808,364)
Less investment expense (24,857) (9,817) (34,674)
Net investment income (603,658) (239,380) (843,038)
Total additions (470,262) (170,459) (640,721)
Deductions
Benefits paid to participants 108,785 108,785
Refunds on termination 2,404 15,529 17,933
Administrative expenses 10,510 6,315 16,825
Total deductions 121,699 21,844 143,543
Net decrease (591,961) (192,303) (784,264)
Net assets held in trust for
pension benefits, beginning of year 3,770,291 1,471,330 5,241,621
Net assets held in trust for
pension benefits, end of year $ 3,178,330 $ 1,279,027 $ 4,457,357
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
25
TIllS PAGE IS INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
26
ADDITIONAL ELEMENTS REQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDA..1IDS AND THE
RULES OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
27
TIllS P AGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.
28
" HOYMAN, DOBSON & COMPANY, P.A.
. .. CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
~,_.", ,=, ,~ ",*,'W",.~",~~.:iW~)tf.:Y'1l'j1W:'TPii:'i:Y,'F~;'<~""
215 Bay/ree Drive, Me/bourne, Florida 32940, 32/-255-0088, Fax 32/-259-8648, wwwhoymancom
Independent Auditor's Report on Compliance and on Internal Control Over
Financial Reporting Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed
in Accordance with Government Auditin2 Standards
Charles W Haymon, Jr
Barbara J Oswalt
Thomas L. Kirk
Karen E. Kirkland
Deborah A. Bradley
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Roger W Dobson
Eugene K. Bjerning
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
We have audited the general purpose financial statements of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, as of and for the year
ended September 30, 2001, and have issued our report thereon dated January 11,2002. We conducted our audit in
accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America and the standards applicable
to ,financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United
States. We did not audit the financial statements of the fiduciary fund type and the discretely presented
component unit. Those financial statements were audited by other auditors whose reports have been furnished to
us, and this report, insofar as it relates to the fiduciary fund type and the discretely presented component unit, is
based on the reports of the other auditors.
Compliance
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the City of Okeechobee, Florida's general purpose
financial statements are free of material misstatement, we performed tests of its 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 and, accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests
disclosed no instances of noncompliance that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In planning and performing our audit, we considered the City of Okeechobee, Florida's internal control over
financial reporting in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the
general purpose financial statements and not to provide assurance on the internal control over financial reporting.
However, we noted a certain matter involving the internal control over financial reporting and its operation that we
consider to be a reportable condition. Reportable conditions involve matters coming to our attention relating to
significant deficiencies in the design or operation of the internal control over financial reporting that, in our
judgment, could adversely affect the City ofOkeechobee, Florida's ability to record, process, summarize, and report
financial data consistent with the assertions of management in the general purpose financial statements. A
description of the reportable condition follows:
Fixed Assets
Condition: We noted that the City does not have detailed fixed asset records to support the recorded cost of its real
property. In addition, we noted that the equipment fixed asset records did not include all of the fixed asset additions
for the current year.
;"'S<;"<~P,"{.,;:tif':i)J{<:s};'tJ~?~~$<j')0dm}~",~.ul':JUillW;j~j1i'ig~tt4.IU. [,,~LL
29
. Americon Institute al Certdied Public Accountants' Flarida Institute al Certilied Public Accountants' SEC Practice Sectian al the A I. C PA . CPAmerico International
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
Page Two
Cause: The lack of detailed real property records is an ongoing issue. The City has passed a Resolution to update
records based upon insurance valuations and property tax records, but no meaningful progress has been made
toward this end during the current fiscal yt;ar. It appears that City employees are unsure as to how to proceed with
this process. The problems with the equipment fixed assets records are the result of relying on information obtained
from user departments during the taking of the annual physical inventory of fixed assets rather than capturing fixed
asset additions at the time of purchase.
Effect: Without adequate records and procedures for updating those records, the City cannot support the recorded
value of its general fixed assets and will continue to receive qualified opinions. In addition, the lack of control over
fixed asset increases the likelihood of misappropriation.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City proceed with its plan to adjust its real property assets based upon
insurance values and property tax records. It appears that the City will require outside assistance in completing this
process. In addition, the City should implement procedures to identify fIxed asset additions at the time a purchase
order is completed. Once the asset is received, it should be tagged, if applicable, and added to the fixed asset
records at its cost. The user departments should be required to account for the asset at the time of taking the
physical inventory and any differences should be investigated.
Management's Response: This has been an on going finding of which we will strive to follow our Auditor's
recommendation by proceeding with the plan to adjust real property assets based upon insurance values and
property tax records. The City of Okeechobee will contract with an outside company for budget year 2002/2003
to assist in completing the process as well as working toward implementing GASB 34.
A material weakness is a condition in which the design or operation of one or more of the internal control
components does not reduce to a relatively low level the risk that misstatements in amounts that would be material
in relation to the general purpose financial statements being audited may occur and not be detected within a timely
period by employees in the normal course of performing their assigned functions. Our consideration of the internal
control over financial reporting would not necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control that might be
reportable conditions and, accordingly, would not disclose all reportable conditions that are also considered to be
material weaknesses. However, we believe that the reportable condition described above is not a material weakness.
We also noted other matters involving the internal control over financial reporting that we have reported to
management of the City ofOkeechobee, Florida, in a separate letter dated January 11,2002.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of the City of Okeechobee, Florida and management, City
Council, federal and state awarding agencies and the Office of the Auditor General and is not intended to be and
should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
=--
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January 11, 2002
30
. "';':;. HOYMAN, DOBSON & COMPANY, P.A.
"" CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
~,gW:JtI:t#f\:jtM'.f'f;H'~;-}-;{j!"
2/5 Bay tree Drive, Melbourne, Florida 32940. 321255-0088, Fox 321-259-8648, wwwhoymancom
Independent Auditor's
Management Letter
Charles W Hoyman, Jr
Barbara J Oswalt
Thomas l. Kirk
Karen E. Kirkland
Debarah A. Bradley
DIRECTOR EMERITUS
Roger W Dobson
Eugene K. Blerning
Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida.
We have audited the financial statements of the City of Okeechobee, Florida, as of and for the fiscal year ended
September 30, 2001, and have issued our report thereon dated January 11, 2002, which was qualified due to a
lack of adequate fixed asset records.
We conducted our audit in accordance with United States generally accepted auditing standards and the standards
applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of
the United States. We have also issued our Independent Auditor's Report on Compliance and Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting. Disclosures in that report, dated January 11, 2002, should be considered in
conjunction with this management letter.
Additionally, our audit was conducted in accordance with Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General. Those
rules (Section I 0.554(l)(g) 1.a.) require that we address in the management letter, if not already addressed in the
auditor's reports on compliance and internal controls, whether or not inaccuracies, shortages, defalcations, fraud,
and/or violations of laws, rules, regulations, and contractual provisions reported in the preceding annual financial
audit report have been corrected. There were no inaccuracies, irregularities, shortages, defalcations, and/or
violations of laws, rules, regulations, and contractual provisions disclosed in the preceding annual report.
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 1O.554(l)(g)1.b.) require that we address in the management letter, if
not already addressed in the auditor's reports on compliance and internal controls whether or not
recommendations made in the preceding annual financial audit report have been followed. The status of the
audit findings for the year ended September 30, 2000 is as follows:
Internal Control Over Financial Reportine
00-1 Fixed Assets Group
Status
Repeated/revised, included in report on
compliance and internal controls
Repeated/revised, included in management
1 etter
Not applicable; no action required
00-2 General Ledger
00-3 Grant Reporting
Management Letter
1. Accounts Receivable - Garbage
2. General Ledger
3. Payroll Taxes
Status
Repeated/revised
Corrected
Corrected
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. American institute of Certified Public Accountants. Florida Institute of Certified Public Accountants. SEC Practice Section of the A i. C PA . CPAmerica International
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
Page Two
As required by the Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10.554(1)(g)2.), the scope of our audit included a
review of the provisions of Section 218.415., Florida Statutes, regarding the investment of public funds. In
connection with our audit, we determined that the City of Okeechobee, Florida complied with Section 218.415,
Florida Statutes.
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10.554(1)(g)4.) require disclosure in the management letter of the
following matters if not already addressed in the auditor's reports on compliance and internal controls: (1)
violations of laws, rules, regulations, and contractual provisions that have occurred, or are likely to have
occurred; (2) improper or illegal expenditures; (3) improper or inadequate accounting procedures (e. g., the
omission of required disclosures from the financial statements); (4) failures to properly record financial
transactions; and (5) other inaccuracies, shortages, defalcations, and instances of fraud discovered by, or that
come to the attention of, the auditor. Our audit disclosed the following matters required to be disclosed:
Current Year Findings and Recommendations
1. General Ledger - Year End Reconciliations
Finding: We noted that at year end, the City's schedules of receivables, payables, and encumbrances did not
reconcile to the general ledger balances. The City identifies outstanding receivables, p~bles, and
encumbrances and makes entries to record these amounts in the general ledger b,yt d2esn't ~ure that the general
ledger balances are zero before making these adjustments. The balances appear to be due to prior year entries
made by the auditor and not recognized by the City in its subsidiary schedules, audit entries not posted by the
client, current year transactions that were incorrectly posted against these balances, and prior year balances not
being cleared by current year receipts and payments.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City implement procedures to ensure that auditor adjustments to
these accounts are reflected in the City's subsidiary schedules and that the City post all required adjusting entries.
In addition, the City should implement control procedures to verify that receipts and payments posted against
these accounts are, in fact, in the account balance at year end and that balances that remain outstanding for a long
period be investigated to determine if the receipt or payment has been posted elsewhere. As an alternative,
subsequent to year end, the City could reverse the year end balances and post the receipts and disbursements
against revenue and expenditure accounts rather than the receivable and payable accounts.
Management's Reponse: We in the Finance office will strive to reconcile the General Ledger balances for the
Receivables, Payables and Encumbrances. In prior years some of the adjusting entries from our auditor were
difficult to follow in that some adjustments appeared to be duplicated. It is the expectation of the Finance Office
that these problems will be cleared in our next Audit.
2. Accounts Receivable - Garbage
Finding: We noted that the City's garbage accounts receivable includes old uncollected receivables.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City review these receivables and write-off accounts determined to
be uncollectible.
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Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
Page Three
Management's Reponse: The Finance Office is in process of adding the Garbage Accounts to the property tax bill.
We believe this will help to eliminate unpaid accounts. A recommendation will be made to the City Council to allow
a write off of old uncollectible accQunts over 75 days.
.
3. Capital Outlay and Operating Expense Classifications
Finding: We noted that the City's capital outlay line items were often charged with small dollar items and with
items that did not appear to meet the definition of capital outlay. In addition, we noted that the equipment fixed
asset records contained many small dollar items and that the cost of some of the items had changed since the
prior year's audit. The changes appear to stem from changes made by the departments at the time of taking the
physical inventory.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City establish a policy that adequately describes what items
constitute capital outlay and that capital outlay items under $750 be charged to a separate capital outlay line item
or that they be charged to a supply account. The accounting department should review all purchase orders and
charges and verify that the appropriate line item has been charged. In addition, we recommend that the City
review its equipment records and remove all items costing under $750 in accordance with its capitalization
policy. In addition, we recommend that fixed asset costs be determined at the time of purchase and that recorded
costs not changed unless documentation is available to verify that the recorded cost is in error.
Management's Reponse: A memo has been sent to all City Departments instructing them that any purchase
under $750.00 should not be expended to capital outlay. The Finance Office will check Departmental purchases
as they are processed through accounts payable to verify that this procedure is being followed.
4. Travel Reimbursement
Finding: We noted that not all expenditures charged to City credit cards were supported by receipts.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City implement a policy for credit card use that requires the timely
submission of all receipts and that employees be held responsible for all charges not adequately supported.
Management's Reponse: We in the Finance Office are in process of sending a memo to all City Departments to
once again inform them that when traveling expenses are incurred on behalf of the City, if the receipts and
vouchers aren't submitted to the Finance Office in a timely manner, the employee that incurred the expense will
be held responsible for all charges not adequately supported.
5. Blank Check Stock
Finding: We noted that the City's blank check stock is not kept in a secure location to restrict unauthorized
access.
Recommendation: We recommend that the City keep its blank check stock locked in a secure location when not
III use.
Management's Reponse: The Finance Office has implemented our Auditors recommendation by keeping our
blank check stock locked in a secure location when not in use.
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Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
City of Okeechobee, Florida
Page Four
6. Segregation of Duties
Finding: Due to the limited accounting staff, we noted that certain functions are not adequately segregated such
as bank reconciliations being performed by employees involved in the cash receipting and disbursement
functions and direct deposit payroll proce&sing not being subject to an independent review and approval.
Recommendation: In order to enhance controls in areas such as these, we recommend that the City implement
procedures whereby the City Administrator review the bank statement and cancelled checks and sign off on the
monthly bank reconciliations and direct deposit payroll listings.
Management's Response: At our Auditors recommendation the City Administrator is currently reviewing and
signing the monthly bank reconciliation's as well as the weekly direct deposit payroll listings in order to enhance
controls.
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10.554(1)(g)5.) also require that the name or official title and legal
authority for the primary government and each component unit of the reporting entity be disclosed in the
management letter, unless disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. The City of Okeechobee, Florida
was originally incorporated in 1915 and its present charter was adopted under Chapter 83 18 of Special Acts of
1919. The City of Okeechobee, Florida includes the following component units: City of Okeechobee, Florida
and Okeechobee Utility Authority General Employees' Pension Trust Fund - established under the City of
Okeechobee, Florida Ordinance 655, as amended by City Ordinance 686; City ofOkeechobee, Florida Municipal
Police Officers' Pension Trust Fund - established under City Ordinance 657, as amended by Ordinance 750; City
of Okeechobee, Florida Municipal Firefighters' Pension Trust Fund - established under City Ordinance 656, as
amended by Ordinance 749.
As required by the Rules of the Auditor General (Section lO.554(1)(g)6.a.), the scope of our audit included a
review of the provisions of Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes, regarding financial emergencies. In connection
with our audit, we determined that the City of Okeechobee, Florida is not in a state of financial emergency as a
consequence of the conditions described in Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes.
As required by the Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10.554(1)(g)6.b.), we determined that the annual
financial report for the City of Okeechobee, Florida for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001, filed with the
Department of Banking Finance pursuant to Section 218.32, Florida Statutes, is in agreement with the annual
financial audit report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2001
As required by the Rules of the Auditor General (Sections 10.554(g)(6)c. and 10.556), we applied financial
condition assessment procedures. It is management's responsibility to monitor the entity's financial condition,
and our financial condition assessment was based in part on representations made by management and the review
of financial information provided by same.
This management letter is intended solely for the information of the City of Okeechobee, Florida and
management, and the State of Florida Office of the Auditor General, and is not intended to be and should not be
used by anyone other than these specified parties.
iK~&~~~fA-.
January 11,2002
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