06-1659 Comprehensive Annual F - Laserfiche WebLink

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GAAP require that management provide a narrative introduction, overview, and analysis to accompany the basic financial statements in the form of Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A). This letter of transmittal is designed to complement MD&A and should be read in conjunction with it. The City of Casselberry's MD&A can be found immediately following the report of the independent auditors. THE CITY The City of Casselberry is located in Central Florida and is part of the greater Orlando metropolitan area. The area has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing areas in the United States. The City is primarily a retail, office, and residential area with a small amount of light industrial zoning. Like all other cities in Seminole County, the City operates according to a Commission/Manager form of government, with five elected City Commissioners, one of whom also serves as Mayor and Commission Chairman, and with a professional, appointed City Manager. The City of Casselberry is one of seven municipal governments within Seminole County. The City provides a full range of services to its 24,899 citizens. Included in these services are traditional city functions such as police and fire protection, advanced life support services, sanitation, road maintenance. water and sewer operations, parks and recreation, planning and community development, as weil as support activities for city governmental programs. In terms of its physical development, the City of Casselberry is a mature City, with only a few hundred acres left for new buildings and development. The City's infrastructure serves a stable. but slightly increasing population and requires expenditures primarily for maintenance and modernization of facilities rather than rapid growth. The City's poi icy is to keep its infrastructure safe and functional, and gradually improve services, while containing and limiting the tax burden to its residents. ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, INTERNAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLS, AND BUDGETARY CONTROL The City's accounting records for General, Special Revenue, Debt Service, and Capital Projects Funds are maintained on a modified accrual basis. Revenues are recognized when they become measurable and available, while expenditures are recorded at the time the related fund liabilities are incurred. Accounting records for Enterprise, Internal Service and Pension Trust Funds are maintained on a full accrual basis. In designing and developing the City's accounting system, consideration is given to the adequacy of internal accounting controls. Internal accounting controls are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance regarding: 1. The safeguarding of assets against loss from unauthorized use or disposition; and 2. The reliability of financial records for preparing. financial statements and maintaining accountability for assets. The concept of reasonable assurance recognizes that: 1. The cost of a control should not exceed the benefits likely to be derived; and 2. The evaluation of cost and benefits requires estimates and judgments by management. All internal control evaluations occur within the above framework. We believe that the City's internal accounting controls adequately safeguard assets. Budgetary control, in conformance with the City Charter and Florida Statutes, is maintained through constant review by the Finance Director. Budgetary responsibility for the General, Special Revenue, Debt Service, Capital Projects and Enterprise Funds is established at the fund level. Detailed monthly budget reports are prepared for each department. Interim financial statements are provided for internal use. v