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GAAP requires that management provide a narrative introduction, overview, and analysis <br />to accompany the basic financial statements in the form of Management's Discussion and <br />Analysis (MD&A). This letter of transmittal is designed to complement the MD&A and <br />should be read in conjunction with it. The City of Casselberry's MD&A can be found <br />immediately following the report of the independent auditors. <br />THE CITY <br />The City of Casselberry is located in Central Florida and is part of the greater Orlando <br />metropolitan area. The area has consistently ranked as one of the fastest growing areas <br />in the United States. The City is primarily a retail, office, and residential area with a small <br />amount of light industrial. Like all other cities in Seminole County, the City operates <br />according to a Commission/Manager form of government. There are five elected City <br />Commissioners, one of whom also serves as Mayor and Commission Chairman, and a <br />professional, appointed City Manager. <br />The City of Casselberry is one of seven municipal governments within Seminole County. <br />The City provides a full range of services to its 30,061 citizens. Included in these services <br />are traditional City functions such as police, sanitation, road maintenance, water, <br />reclaimed water, and wastewater operations, parks, recreation, planning, economic and <br />community development, as well as support activities for City governmental programs. <br />In terms of its physical development, the City of Casselberry is a mature and relatively <br />densely developed City of seven square miles. The City's infrastructure serves a stable <br />population and requires expenditures primarily for maintenance and modernization of <br />facilities rather than rapid growth. The City's policy is to keep its infrastructure safe and <br />functional, and gradually improve services, while containing and limiting the financial <br />burden to its residents. <br />ACCOUNTING SYSTEM, INTERNAL ACCOUNTING CONTROLS <br />The City's accounting records for General, Special Revenue, Debt Service, and Capital <br />Projects Funds are maintained on a modified accrual basis. Revenues are recognized <br />when they become measurable and available, while expenditures are recorded at the <br />time the related fund liabilities are incurred. Accounting records for Enterprise and <br />Pension Trust Funds are maintained on a full accrual basis. <br />In designing and developing the City's accounting system, consideration is given to the <br />adequacy of internal accounting controls. Internal accounting controls are designed to <br />provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance regarding: <br />1. The safeguarding of assets against loss from unauthorized use or disposition, and <br />2. The reliability of financial records for preparing financial statements and <br />maintaining accountability for assets. <br />The concept of reasonable assurance recognizes that: <br />1. The cost of a control should not exceed the benefits likely to be derived; and <br />2. The evaluation of cost and benefits requires estimates and judgments by <br />management. <br />v <br />