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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-24 Financial Mgmt Policy Repealing 2014-01 - Repealed by 2016-27 RESOLUTION NO.2016- A RESOLUTION ACCEPTING CHANGES TO THE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT POLICIES AND ACCOUNTING METHODOLOGIES AND REPEALING RESOLUTION NO. 2014-01 RECITALS: The City of Ashland prepares the budget and financial reports in keeping with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) as established by national and state guidelines. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is the primary organization that provides financial reporting requirements through their statements on accounting standards. Preparation of these documents is supported by policies and guidelines established for consistency between years and compliance with over-sight authorities. Changes in laws and industry standards require updating of these policies on a regular basis. Updating policies also supports the annual audit and helps to provide comparability with peer agencies. In order to keep internal policies consistent with GAAP and GASB requirements and with Oregon Budget Law; THE CITY OF ASHLAND RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Council accepts the proposed changes to the Financial Management Policy SECTION 2. Council accepts the proposed changes to the Accounting Methodologies SECTION 3. Resolution No. 2014-01 is repealed effective with approval of this resolution. This resolution was duly PASSED and ADOPTED this day of , 2016, and takes e ct upon signing by t Mayor. Barbara Christensen, City Recorder SIGNED and APPROVED this /7 day of , 2016. yJntro berg, Mayor Reviewed as to form: David H. Lo man, City Attorney Page 1 of 1 Financial Management Policies The Financial Management Policies apply to fiscal activities of the City of Ashland and applicable component units. Objectives The objectives of Ashland's financial policies are as follows: 1. To enhance the City Council's decision-making ability by providing accurate information on program and operating costs. 2. To employ revenue policies that prevent undue or unbalanced reliance on any one source, distribute the cost of municipal services fairly, and provide adequate funds to operate desired programs. 3. To provide and maintain essential public programs, services, facilities, utilities, infrastructure, and capital equipment. 4. To protect and enhance the City's credit rating. 5. To ensure the legal use of all City funds through efficient systems of financial security and internal control. Investments All City funds shall be invested to provide-in order of importance-safety of principal, a sufficient level of liquidity to meet cash flow needs, and the maximum yield possible. All idle cash will be continuously invested. Accounting 1. The City will maintain an accounting and financial reporting system that conforms to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Oregon Local Budget Law. 2. The City will issue a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report each fiscal year. The Comprehensive Annual Financial Report will show fund expenditures and revenues on both a GAAP and budget basis for comparison purposes. 3. An independent annual audit will be performed by a certified public accounting firm licensed to perform municipal audits. The auditor will issue an official opinion on the annual financial statements and will issue a management letter, as needed or required, detailing areas that need improvement. 4. Full disclosure will be provided in financial statements and bond representations. 5. The accounting systems will be maintained to monitor expenditures and revenues on a monthly basis with thorough analysis and adjustment of the biennium budget as appropriate. 6. The accounting system will provide monthly information about cash position and investment performance. 7. Annually, the City will submit documentation to obtain the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in financial reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA). Operating Budgetary Policies 1. The budget committee will be appointed in conformance with state statutes. The budget committee's chief purpose is to review the City Administrator's (budget officer's) 1 proposed budget and approve a budget and maximum tax levy for City council consideration. The budget committee may consider and make recommendations on other financial issues to the City council. 2. The City will finance all current expenditures with current revenues. The City will avoid budgetary practices that balance current expenditures through the obligation of future resources. 3. The City budget will support City council goals and priorities and the long-range needs of the community. 4. In contrast to the line-item budget that focuses exclusively on items to be purchased (such as supplies and equipment), the City will use a program/objectives format that is designed to: a. Structure budget choices and information in terms of programs and their related work activities, b. Provide information on what each program is committed to accomplish in long- term goals and in short-term objectives, and c. Measure the degree of achievement of program objectives (performance measures). 5. The City will include multi-year projections in the budget document. 6. To maintain fund integrity, the City will manage each fund as an independent entity in accordance with applicable statutes and with generally accepted accounting principles. 7. The City will allocate direct and administrative costs to each fund based upon the cost of providing these services. The City will recalculate the cost of administrative services regularly to identify the impact of inflation and other cost increases. 8. The City will submit documentation for each adopted budget to obtain the Award for Distinguished Budget Presentation from the Government Finance Officers Association. Fund Balance and Operational Policies The City has established minimum ending fund balances in most funds by resolution. Establishing and adhering to these policies are an integral part of maintaining the City's fiscal stability and credit rating. The current resolution is 2014-01. From time to time the City will update the resolution as needed. By resolution 2011-17 the City standardized presentations of funds and fund balances consistent with GASB Statement 54. From time to time the City will update the resolution as needed. The governing body has approved the following order of spending regarding fund balance categories: restricted resources are spent first when both restricted and unrestricted (committed, assigned or unassigned) resources are available for expenditures. When restricted resources are spent, the order of spending is: committed (if applicable), assigned (if applicable) and unassigned. General Fund The General Fund accounts for all financial resources: working capital carryover, taxes, licenses and permits, intergovernmental revenue, fines and forfeitures, charges for services, miscellaneous revenues, inter-fund transfers and other resources except those accounted for in another fund. 2 Expenditures are for Administration, Social Services, Economic and Cultural Development, Police Department, Municipal Court Department, Fire and Rescue Department, City Band, Cemeteries, Community Development and others as required. • The General Fund will maintain an unrestricted and undesignated balance of annual revenue of at least 12 percent. This is considered the minimum needed to maintain the City's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Special Revenue Funds Special revenue funds account for the proceeds of specific sources that are legally restricted to expenditures for specified purposes. Reserve Fund. This fund is used to set aside funds to protect services, to stabilize the budget, and to meet any costs that may arise in the future from unexpected events as established by resolution 2010-18. Because no ongoing revenue stream has been established for this fund it is reported as a part of the General Fund for financial reporting. • There is no minimum fund balance identified. • This fund ends or must be renewed by June, 2022, per Oregon Budget Law. Community Development Block Grant Fund. This fund was established in 1994-95. The fund accounts for the Block Grant and related expenditures. • A minimum operating fund balance is not needed since this fund works on a reimbursement basis. Any ending fund balance is restricted. • The City may budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures or shortfalls in projected revenues but it is not required. Street Fund. Revenues are from the state road tax, grants, franchise fees, charges for services and miscellaneous sources. Expenditures are for the maintenance, repair, and surfacing of streets, as well as the maintenance, repair and construction of storm drains. • The Street Fund will maintain an ending fund balance of annual operating revenue of at least 15 percent. This is the minimum needed to maintain the City's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. This balance is committed. • Gas tax balances are restricted. • The System Development Charges for Transportation and Storm Drains are included in the Street Fund balance. This portion of the Street Fund balance is restricted and shall not be used in determining the minimum fund balance. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated expenditures of a nonrecurring nature or shortfalls in projected revenues. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Airport Fund. Revenues are from airport leases, fuel sales and grants. Expenditures are for airport operations and improvements. • The Airport Fund will maintain an ending balance of annual revenue of at least 10 percent. This is the minimum needed to maintain the city's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. • All of the Airport ending fund balance is restricted due to the acceptance of federal grants. • Many of the airport assets have restrictions placed on them by the Federal Aviation Administration. None of the current revenues are pledged to outside lenders. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Capital Projects Funds Capital improvement funds are established to account for financial resources that are used for the acquisition or construction of major capital facilities (other than those financed by Enterprise Funds, Internal Service Funds, Special Assessment Funds and Trust Funds). Capital Improvements Fund This fund accounts for revenues from grants, unbonded assessment payments, and other sources, and will account for the construction of special local improvements, usually streets, with revenues from short-term borrowing and unbonded assessments. Expenditures are for construction, property and equipment acquisition and replacement, improvements and related purposes including facility maintenance, and the repayment of short-term debt principal and interest incurred in financing improvements. • The purpose is to accumulate funds prior to a large construction project; therefore, there is no minimum fund balance requirement but a $500,000 goal for operational purposes has been identified. • Food & Beverage Tax proceeds committed to the parks system are receipted in this fund and transferred to the Parks CIP Fund as needed. This portion of the Capital Improvements fund balance is committed by voter approval and shall not be used in determining the minimum fund balance. • The System Development Charges (SDCs) for the parks system are included in the Capital Improvement fund balance. This portion of the Capital Improvements fund balance is legally restricted and shall not be used in determining the minimum fund balance. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Debt Service Fund • The Debt Service Fund accounts for the accumulation of resources for, and the payment of, general long-term debt principal and interest. • The ending fund balance goal is to have an amount equal to one year's payments on hand. • All of the monies within the Debt Service fund are restricted for debt service until the specific debt is repaid in full. Oregon Revised Statutes prohibit cities from borrowing this 4 money for any other purpose. • All bond issues and notes are separated in the accounting system. Enterprise Funds Enterprise funds account for the following operations: (a) those that are financed and operated in a manner similar to private business enterprise, where the intent of the governing body is that the costs (expenses, including depreciation) of providing goods and services to the general public on a continuing basis be financed or recovered primarily through user charges; or (b) those where the governing body has decided that periodic determination of revenues earned, expenses incurred, and/or net income is appropriated for capital maintenance, public policy, management control, accountability, or other purposes. Water Fund. This fund accounts for water operations. Revenues are from sales of water, other charges for services, and miscellaneous sources. Expenditures are for operations, franchise tax, conservation programs, capital construction, and retirement of debt. • The Water Fund will maintain an unrestricted and undesignated balance of annual revenue of at least 20 percent in addition to any amounts held for repayment of debt. This is the minimum needed to maintain the City's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. • The Water System Development Charges and reserved debt service fund balances are included in the Water Fund balance. These portions of the Water Fund balance are restricted and shall not be used in determining the minimum fund balance. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Wastewater Fund. This fund accounts for wastewater treatment and collection. Revenues are from charges for services and taxes. Expenditures are for operations, franchise tax, capital construction, and retirement of debt. • The Wastewater Fund will maintain an unrestricted and undesignated balance of annual revenue of at least 15 percent in addition to any amount required by debt financing. This is the minimum needed to maintain the City's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. • The Wastewater System Development Charges and reserved debt service fund balances are included in the Wastewater Fund balance. These portions of the Wastewater Fund balance are restricted and shall not be used in determining the minimum fund balance. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Electric Fund. The Electric Fund accounts for the distribution of purchased electricity according to standards set forth by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Revenues are from sale of electricity and other charges for services and intergovernmental revenues. Expenditures are for related operations. Utility operations include wholesale power purchases, operating expenses, 5 energy conservation incentives, capital outlay, retirement of debt, franchise tax, and related purposes. • The Electric Fund will maintain an unrestricted and undesignated balance of annual revenue of at least 12 percent. This is the minimum needed to maintain the City's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. • No portion of the Electric fund balance is restricted for specific uses. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Telecommunications Fund. The Telecommunications Fund accounts for the revenues and expenditures of the Ashland Fiber Network. • The Telecommunications Fund will maintain a minimum balance of at least 20 percent of annual revenue as was established in FY 2006-07. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated no- recurring expenditure. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Internal Service Funds Internal service funds account for the financing of goods or services provided by one department or agency to other departments or agencies of the governmental unit, or to other governmental units, on a cost reimbursement basis. Central Services Fund. This fund is divided into Administration, Information Technology, Administrative Services, City Recorder, and Public Works Administration/Engineering. Expenditures are for personnel, materials and services and capital outlay for these departments. These functions are funded by internal charges for services to benefitted departments and divisions and by some revenues from the public. • The Central Services Fund will maintain an unrestricted and undesignated balance of annual revenue of at least 3 percent. This is the minimum needed to maintain the City's credit worthiness and to adequately provide for economic uncertainties and cash flow needs. • No portion of the Central Services fund balance is legally restricted for specific purposes. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Insurance Services Fund. Revenues in this fund are from service charges to other departments, investment income, and insurance retrospective rating adjustments. Expenditures are for insurance premiums, self-insurance direct claims, and administration. • The Insurance Services Fund will maintain an unrestricted and undesignated balance of $4001000 (1993 Dollars) as recommended in the June 1993 Risk Financing Study. This balance will be increased annually by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to account for inflation. (Calculated at 6/30/2016: take CPI-U 241.38 / 144.4 x $400,000 =$668,000). This is the minimum needed to maintain the City's insurance programs and provide for uninsured exposures. 6 • No portion of the Insurance Services Fund balance is legally restricted for specific uses. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Health Benefits Fund. Revenues in this fund are primarily from service charges to other departments, investment income and interfund loans as needed. Expenditures are for insurance premiums, self-insurance direct claims, and administration. • The Health Benefits Fund will maintain a balance of $500,000 as recommended for self- insurance programs. The balance will be adjusted each year by CPI-U. • The Health Benefits Fund balance is legally restricted for the employee health benefits program. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Equipment Fund. This fund is used to account for the maintenance and replacement of the City fleet of vehicles and specified equipment. Revenues are from equipment rental and replacement charges to other departments and divisions. Expenditures are for personnel, materials and services, and capital outlay. This fund is divided into two divisions: equipment maintenance and purchasing and acquisition. The purpose of the equipment replacement function is to accumulate adequate funds to replace equipment on a timely basis. This replacement schedule is updated annually. • No minimum fund balance is recommended beyond the amount calculated to sufficiently fund equipment replacement; however, a $200,000 goal for operational purposes should be considered. • No portion of the Equipment fund balance is legally restricted for specific uses. The City has a policy of renting equipment at rates that include the replacement cost of the specific piece of equipment. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Trust and Agency Funds Trust and agency funds account for assets held by a governmental unit in a trustee capacity or as an agent for individuals, private organizations, or governmental units, and/or other funds. These include (a) expendable trust funds, (b) non-expendable trust funds, (c) pension trust funds, and (d) agency funds. Cemetery Trust Fund. The Cemetery Trust Fund is a non-expendable trust fund that accumulates revenue from interest income and perpetual care service charges on cemetery operations. Expenditures are for the repurchase of plots and transfers of earnings to the cemetery fund for operations. • No minimum fund balance policy is recommended. 7 Component Unit Ashland Parks and Recreation Commission Parks and Recreation Fund. (Parks General Fund) Revenues are from charges for services and miscellaneous sources. Expenditures are for parks administrative, recreational, and golf course operations. • A fund balance policy is not needed since this fund works on a reimbursement basis. • The City will budget a contingency appropriation to provide for unanticipated non- recurring expenditures. The minimum contingency will be maintained at not less than 3 percent of annual operating expenditures. Parks Capital Improvements Fund. (Capital Projects Fund) This fund is used to account for resources from grants, payments for services, and inter-fund transfers that are to be expended for equipment purchases and major park renovations. The purpose is to accumulate funds prior to a large construction project; therefore, there is no minimum fund balance. Parks Equipment Fund. (Parks Internal Service Fund) This fund is used to account for resources from grants, payments for services, and inter-fund transfers that are to be expended for equipment purchases and major park renovations. The purpose is to accumulate funds prior to a large construction project; therefore, there is no minimum fund balance. Revenues • The City will estimate its annual revenues by an objective, analytical process. Because most revenues are sensitive to conditions outside the City's control, estimates will be conservative. • The City will make every effort to maintain a diversified and stable revenue base to protect its operation from short-term fluctuations in any one revenue source. • With the exception of legally restricted portions of a fund balance, Council action equivalent to that taken to commit or assign fund balance can be done to remove the commitment or assignment. • The City will establish charges for enterprise funds that fully support the total cost of the enterprise. Utility rates will be reviewed annually. Rates will be adjusted as needed to account for major changes in consumption and cost increases. • The City will charge user fees to the direct beneficiaries of City services to recover some or all of the full cost of providing that service. All user fees will be reviewed biannually to insure that direct and overhead costs are recovered in the percentage approved by City Council. • To the extent practicable, new development shall pay necessary fees to meet all identified costs associated with that development. • The City will work aggressively to collect all delinquent accounts receivable. When necessary, collection procedures will include termination of service, submission to collection agencies, foreclosure, and other available legal remedies. Expenditures • The City will provide employee compensation that is competitive with comparable public 8 jurisdictions within the relative recruitment area. • Estimated wage increases and changes in employee benefits will be included in the proposed budget under Personal Services. • The City is committed to maintaining and improving the productivity of its staff by providing a proper working environment, adequate equipment and supplies, and appropriate training and supervision. • A Social Service appropriation will be included in the proposed General Fund budget. This appropriation will increase or decrease relative to the overall General Fund revenues. • An Economic, Cultural Development, Tourism and Sustainability appropriation will be included in the proposed General Fund budget. This appropriation will increase or decrease relative to the overall Transient Occupancy (Lodging) Tax Revenues. Purchasing • The City will purchase materials, supplies, and equipment through a competitive process that provides the best product for the least cost. Capital • The City will provide for adequate maintenance of equipment and capital assets. The City will make regular contributions to the Equipment Replacement Fund and the Facilities budget to ensure that monies will be available as needed to replace City vehicles and facilities. • Future operating costs associated with new capital improvements will be projected and included in the long-term budget forecast. • The City will determine and use the most appropriate method for financing all new capital projects. • Special accounts dedicated for capital improvements will be segregated in the accounting system and used only for the intended capital purposes. • The Capital Improvement Plan will encourage a level capital replacement schedule. Debts • The City will not use long-term borrowing to finance current operations. • Capital projects, financed through bond proceeds, will be financed for a period not to exceed the useful life of the project. • Whenever possible, enterprise debt will be self-supporting. Regardless of the type of debt issued, the City will establish a one-year reserve for all self-supporting debt as required by any bond covenant. • The City will seek to maintain and improve its bond rating to minimize borrowing costs and to ensure its access to credit markets. • The City will keep the final maturity of general obligation bonds at or below 20 years, with the exception of water supply and land acquisition that will be limited to 30 years. • The City will maintain good communications with bond rating agencies about its financial condition. Risk Management 9 • The City will provide an active risk management program that reduces human suffering and protects City assets through adequate internal controls, loss prevention, insurance, and self-insurance. 10