Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Financial Audit Division
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Table of Contents
Report Summary
Independent Auditor's Report
Management's Discussion and Analysis
Basic Financial Statements:
Statement of Net Assets and Governmental Fund Balance Sheet
Statement of Activities and Governmental Fund Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance
Statements of Revenues, Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance Budget and Actual
Notes to Financial Statements
Auditor's Report on Compliance and on Internal Control
Status of Prior Audit Issues
Audit Participation
The following members of the Office of the Legislative Auditor prepared this report:
Claudia Gudvangen, CPA Deputy Legislative Auditor
Jim Riebe, CPA Audit Manager
Patrick Phillips, CPA Auditor-in-Charge
Kristen Poore Auditor
Exit Conference
We discussed the results of the audit with the following staff of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District at a meeting held on June 30, 2003:
Joseph Sanzone Executive Director
William Caesar Business Administrator
Trish A. Egerer Accounting/Payroll
Report Summary
Key Audit Conclusions:
The financial statements of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (District) for the year ended December 31, 2002, were fairly presented, in all material respects, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
We did not identify any instances of noncompliance with legal provisions that could have significantly affected the District's financial statements.
Background:
The District was created under the authority of Minn. Stat. Sections 473.701 to 473.716 to control mosquitoes and black gnats and to monitor Lyme ticks in the metropolitan area. The District is governed by the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commission. The Commission is comprised of representatives from the following counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington. The District's executive director is Joseph Sanzone. The District received approximately $9.7 million in tax revenue and spent approximately $10.6 million on control activities in the year 2002.
This audit report contains the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's financial
statements and our related Independent Auditor's Report and Report on Compliance
and Internal Control over Financial Reporting.
Independent Auditor's Report
Commissioner Tony Bennett, Chair
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Members of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Mr. Joseph Sanzone, Executive Director
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
We have audited the accompanying basic financial statements of the Metropolitan
Mosquito Control District (District) as of December 31, 2002, and for the two
years then ended as presented in the Table of Contents. These financial statements
are the responsibility of the District's management. Our responsibility is to
express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
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 financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and the significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District as of December 31, 2002, and the results of its operations and changes in its financial position for the two years then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
As discussed in Note 1 to the basic financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2002, the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District adopted Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement No. 34, Basic Financial Statements - and Management's Discussion and Analysis - for State and Local Governments; and Statement No. 37, Basic Financial Statements - and Management's Discussion and Analysis - for State and Local Governments: Omnibus. These statements establish new financial reporting requirements for state and local governments throughout the United States.
Management's Discussion and Analysis, as listed in the Table of Contents, is
not a required part of the District's basic financial statements, but is supplementary
information required by the accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America. We have applied certain limited procedures, which
consisted principally of inquiries of management regarding the methods of measurement
and presentation of the supplementary information. However, we did not audit
the information and express no opinion on it.
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated May 23, 2003, on our consideration of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's internal control over financial reporting and on 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.
/s/ James R. Nobles /s/ Claudia J. Gudvangen, CPA
James R. Nobles Claudia J. Gudvangen, CPA
Legislative Auditor Deputy Legislative Auditor
May 23, 2003
Management's Discussion and Analysis
As management of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District, we offer readers of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's financial statements, this narrative overview and analysis of the financial activities of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2002.
Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) Statement No. 34, "Basic Financial Statements - and Management's Discussion and Analysis - for State and Local Governments", establishes new reporting requirements for state and local governments throughout the United States. The new requirements not only restructure the format of information presented in previous fiscal years, but also create new information that must be presented. The intention of the new reporting model is to make annual reports more comprehensive while being easier to understand.
Financial Highlights - The assets of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District exceeded its liabilities at the close of the most recent fiscal year by $13,187,736 (net assets). Of this amount $5,902,754, (unrestricted net assets) may be used to meet the organizations ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors in accordance with the District's fund designations and fiscal policies. As of the close of the current fiscal year, the District's general fund reported an ending fund balance of $6,224,716. At the end of the current fiscal year, the unreserved fund balance for the general fund was $5,334,031 dollars or 47.4 percent of the total general fund expenditures. Over 85 percent of the total fund balance is available for use within the District's designations and policies.
Overview of the Financial Statements - The discussion and analysis are intended to serve as an introduction to Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's basic financial statements. The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's basic financial statements are comprised of three components: (1) government-wide financial statements, (2) fund financial statements, and (3) notes to the financial statements.
Government-Wide Financial Statements - Government-wide financial statements are designed to provide readers with a broad overview of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's finances in a manner similar to private sector business.
The statement of net assets provides information on all the District's assets and liabilities with the difference between the two reported as net assets. Over time, increases or decreases in the net assets can indicate whether the financial position of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District is improving or deteriorating.
The statement of activities presents information showing how the District's
assets changed during the most recent fiscal year. All changes of net assets
are reported as soon as the underlying event giving rise to the change occurs,
regardless of the timing of the related cash flows. Thus, revenues and expenses
are recorded in this statement for some items that will only be resolved in
cash flows in future in fiscal periods (e.g. uncollected taxes and unused vacation
leave).
Government-wide financial statements of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
represent the governmental activities of the District, which includes its general
fund to control mosquitoes. The District does not record business-type activities.
The government wide financial statements are reported in columnar manner, adjacent to the related fund statement with reconciliation of those statements included.
Fund Financial Statements - A fund is a group of related accounts used to maintain control over resources that have been segregated for specific activities or objectives. The District, like other state and local governments uses fund accounting to ensure and demonstrate compliance with finance related legal requirements. The District has one fund, which is categorized as a governmental fund.
Governmental Funds - Governmental funds are used to account for essentially the same functions reported as governmental activities in the government-wide financial statements. However, unlike the government-wide financial statements, governmental fund financial statements focus on near-term inflows and outflows of spendable resources, as well as on balances of spendable resources available at the end of the fiscal year. Such information may be useful in evaluating governmental near term financial requirements.
Because the focus of governmental funds is narrower than government-wide financial statements, it is useful to compare the information presented for government funds with similar information presented for governmental activities in the governmental wide statements. By doing so, readers may better understand the long-term impact of the District's financial decisions. Both the governmental fund balance sheet and the governmental fund statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balance, provide a reconciliation to facilitate this comparison between governmental funds and governmental activities.
The District develops an annual appropriated budget for its fund. A budgetary comparative statement has been provided for the fund to demonstrate compliance with this budget.
The District does not have proprietary or fiduciary funds.
The notes to the financial statements provide additional information that is essential to a full understanding of the data provided in the government-wide and fund financial statements. The notes to the financial statements can be found pages 14 - 23 of this report.
Government-Wide Financial Analysis
As noted earlier, net assets may serve over time as a useful indicator of a
government's financial position. In the case of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control
District, assets exceeded liabilities by $13,187,736 at the close of the most
recent fiscal year.
The District's largest portion of net assets (55%) is reflected in capital assets
(e.g. land, buildings, vehicles and equipment). The District uses these capital
assets to provide services to citizens; consequently these assets are not available
for future spending.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's Net Assets
2002 2001
Current and Other Assets $ 6,955,428 $ 8,047,277
Capital Assets 7,284,982 7,442,850
Total Assets 14,240,410 15,490,127
Long-term Liabilities 688,353 616,986
Other Liabilities 364,321 191,631
Total Liabilities 1,052,674 808,617
Net Assets:
Invested in Capital Assets 7,284,982 7,442,850
Unrestricted 5,902,754 7,238,660
Total Net Assets $13,187,736 $14,681,510
A portion of the District's net assets represent resources that may be subject to restrictions on how they may be used, however, at this time there are no such restrictions. The balance of unrestricted net assets ($5,902,754) may be used to meet the District's ongoing obligations to citizens and creditors.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's Changes in Net Assets
2002 2001
Revenues
Property Tax $ 9,751,000 $ 9,260,365
Other County Income 19,397 6,318
Investment Income 190,513 264,852
Miscellaneous 38,308 42,139
Other 12,495 12,893
Total Revenue $10,011,713 $ 9,586,567
Expenses
Commissioners $ 3,454 $ 3,925
Administrative 858,285 795,420
Control 10,643,748 8,016,638
Total Expenses $11,505,487 8,815,983
Increase (decrease) in Net Assets (1,493,774) 770,584
Net Assets on Jan. 1st 14,681,510 13,910,926
Net Assets on Dec. 31st $13,187,736 $14,681,510
Fund Financial Analysis
The focus of the District's governmental or general fund is to provide information on near-term inflows, outflows, and balances of spendable resources (i.e. flow of financial resources). This information can be useful in assessing the District's financing requirements. The District's unreserved fund balance may serve as a useful measure of its net resources available for spending, or working capital at the end of the fiscal year.
At the end of the current fiscal year, the District's general fund reported an ending fund balance of $6,224,716, over 85 percent of which is unreserved. The unreserved fund balance is available for working capital as designated, as well as specific other designations. The remainder is reserved because it is committed as control materials already purchased.
The general fund decreased by $1,263,471 in 2002. This was due to slightly lower revenues than expected and expenditures beyond original expectation. The District has tried to maintain $500,000 for emergency and vector borne disease expenditures. 2002 was a year that those funds were expended, as mosquito populations and West Nile virus cases resulted in increased expenditures.
Budgetary Highlights
There was an amendment to the original adopted budget of $820,000. This was due to mosquito borne disease and extreme mosquito populations to which the District responded. The district has maintained funds in the event of such a situation for several years. These monies will need to be restored for future situations such as this. Revenues were less than budget by $243,937. The fund balance was expected to be reduced by $221,145 in the original budget. The final budget indicated a reduction of $1,041,145, however, it was actually reduced by $1,263,471.
Capital Asset and Long-Term Liabilities
Capital Assets - The District's investment in capital assets as of December 31, 2002 amounts to $7,284,982 (net of accumulated depreciation). The investment includes land, buildings, vehicles and equipment.
Capital asset events in 2002 include: Upgrade of security systems at District facilities for $27,162 and $334,068 for vehicles and equipment.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's Capital Assets (Net of Depreciation)
2002 2001
Land and Improvements $1,118,867 $1,118,867
Buildings 4,467,775 4,675,650
Vehicles 1,376,036 1,331,422
Equipment 322,304 316,909
Total $7,284,982 $7,442,848
Long-Term Liabilities - At the end of 2002 the District had long-term debt in
the amount of $688,353 for compensated absences.
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Notes to Financial Statements
For the year ending December 31, 2002
1. Organization & Significant Accounting Policies
Reporting Entity
The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) was established under Minnesota
Laws 1959, Chapter 488 (Coded Minn. Stat. Sections 473.701 to 473.716). The
District operates under the Metropolitan Mosquito Control Commission representing
the seven county metropolitan area. It was created to control mosquitoes and
black gnats and to perform surveillance on Lyme ticks in the metropolitan area,
which consists of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington
Counties. A director is responsible for the supervision of the District and
reports to the Commission.
Significant Accounting Policies
This summary of significant accounting policies of the Metropolitan Mosquito
Control District is presented to assist in understanding the District's financial
statements. The financial statements and notes are representations of the District's
management, which is responsible for their integrity and objectivity. These
accounting policies conform to generally accepted accounting principles as prescribed
by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board and have been consistently applied
in the preparation of the financial statements. In accordance with Governmental
Accounting Standard No. 20, the District does not apply any pronouncements of
the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued after November 30, 1989.
A. Basis of Presentation
During fiscal year 2002, the District implemented several new accounting standards
issued by GASB:
Statement No. 34, "Basic Financial Statements - and Management's Discussion and Analysis - for State and Local Governments."
Statement No. 37, "Basic Financial Statements - and Management's Discussion and Analysis - for State and Local Governments: Omnibus."
The requirements of Statements Nos. 34 and 37 establish new financial reporting standards for state and local governments and represent a significant change in the financial reporting model used by state and local governments. The standards include new as well as revised statement formats and changes in fund types and account groups. In addition to fund financial statements, governments are required to issue government-wide financial statements, prepared using the accrual basis of accounting and the economic resources measurement focus. As a result, adjustments to the fund equities reported in the prior financial statement balances were required. The financial statements are presented in a columnar format reconciling differences between them.
Government-wide and Fund Financial Statements
The government-wide financial statements (i.e., the statement of net assets and the statement of activities) report information of all activities of the District. The District reports all activities as governmental, supported by taxes, and does not report business-type activities. The District does not have program revenues.
Governmental Fund
The District's General Fund is the general operating fund of the District and
is used to account for all financial activities. The General Fixed Assets group
of accounts and the General Long Term Debt account group are supplanted by the
information in the Statement of Net Assets.
B. Basis of Accounting
Basis of accounting refers to when revenues and expenditures 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. Revenues and expenditures are recognized as follows:
The government-wide statements are reported using the economic resources measurement and focus and the accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded when a liability is incurred, regardless of timing or related cash flows. Property taxes are recognized as revenues in the year for which they are levied.
The governmental fund financial statements are reported using the current financial
resources measurement focus and modified accrual basis of accounting. Revenues
are recognized when they become measurable and available. They are considered
to be available when they are collectible within the current period or soon
enough after to pay liabilities of the current period. The District considers
revenues to be available if they are collected within 60 days of the end of
the current fiscal period. Expenditures are generally recognized when the related
liability is incurred. An exception to this general rule is the long-term portion
of employee benefits for unused sick and vacation leave. Also, consumable inventory
items are recognized as expenditures in the period used, rather than in the
period purchased.
C. Budgets and Budgetary Accounting
The Commission adopts an annual budget for the General Fund for the fiscal year
commencing the following January. The budget is prepared on the modified accrual
basis of accounting, which is consistent with generally accepted accounting
principles (GAAP). It includes the amounts that can be expended based on detailed
budget estimates for individual expenditure accounts and the related anticipated
revenues, as shown in the basic financial statements and supplementary information.
HACA payments were eliminated in 2002. The property tax levy limitation for
2002 is the 2001 property tax levy limitation adjusted by a multiplier based
on market valuation changes between 2000 and 2001. District budgeted expenditures
are expected to exceed the levy as Commission and legislative intent has been
to reduce the fund balance. In 2002, expenditures did exceed the levy.
All budget amounts lapse at the end of the year to the extent they have not
been expended or encumbered.
D. Deposits and Investments
Deposits are held in financial institutions, US Bank N.A., and Lakes Area Bank,
and are carried at cost plus accrued interest. The carrying amount of deposits
included on the balance sheet as part of "Cash and Cash Equivalents"
is $277,684. Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments that
are both (1) readily convertible to known amounts of cash and (2) so near their
maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of
changes in interest rates. Deposits carried in short term investments include
a certificate of deposit for $95,000 maturing within six months. Accrued interest
of $1,742.79 is displayed on the balance sheet as part of Income Receivable.
Minn. Stat. Section 118A.03 requires that deposits in financial institutions
by municipalities, including special districts, be secured by depository insurance
or a combination of depository insurance and collateral security. The statute
further requires the total collateral computed at its fair market value shall
be at least 10 percent more than the amount on deposit in excess of any insured
portion. The MMCD's deposits at year-end were appropriately secured by federal
depository insurance and by collateral held by US Bank N.A. in MMCD's name.
The District participates in the Minnesota Association of Governments Investing
for Counties (MAGIC) Trust Fund, an investment pool. These pooled investments
are not categorized because securities are not specifically held by the District
in book entry form. The fund invests in instruments permitted by law, including
direct obligations of the United States of America and its agencies, obligations
of the State of Minnesota rated "A" or better, bankers' acceptances
of United States banks, commercial paper issued by United States corporations,
deposits in national or state banks insured by FDIC, certain repurchase agreements
or reverse repurchase agreements and other instruments permitted by applicable
laws. The assets of the District within the fund are held in the District's
name as equally valued shares. The carrying amount is $5,026,136.
The following table summarizes the District's cash and cash equivalents.
Instrument Carrying Amount
MAGIC Trust Fund $ 5,026,136
Deposits 277,684
Imprest Petty Cash 200
__________
$ 5,304,020
The following summarizes the District's short term investments.
Instrument Carrying Amount
Certificate of Deposit $ 95,000
E. Inventory
Inventory is stated at cost using the first-in, first-out method. It consists
of expendable supplies held for consumption in the next operating year. A portion
of the fund balance, $890,685, has been reserved for control materials inventory.
F. Capital Assets and Real Property
Capital assets and real property are stated net of depreciation. Capital outlay
expenditures in the governmental fund totaled $353,902 for the year ended December
31, 2002.
Depreciation is provided in the District's accounts because it results in better
information for resource allocation to activities of the District's operation.
In addition, comparison of accumulated depreciation and the cost of assets are
helpful in budgeting outlays for replacement of capital assets.
G. Risk Management
The District is exposed to various risks of loss related to torts, theft of,
damage to and destruction of assets; errors and omissions; injuries to employees;
and natural disasters for which the District carries insurance. The District
obtains insurance through participation in the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance
Trust (LMCIT), which is a risk sharing pool with approximately 800 other governmental
units. The District pays an annual premium to LMCIT for its workers compensation
and property and casualty insurance. The LMCIT is self sustaining through member
premiums and will reinsure for claims above a prescribed dollar amount for each
insurance event. Settled claims have not exceeded the District's coverage in
any of the past three fiscal years.
H. Amount to be Provided for Employee Benefits
Resources for the payment of employee benefits will be provided by the general
fund. The amount of $688,353 has been designated in the fund balance for long-term
employee benefits. Short-term employee benefits are shown at $17,305.
I. Comparative Data
Comparative total data for the prior year has been presented in the accompanying
financial statements in order to provide an understanding of changes in the
District's financial position and operation.
J. Property Taxes
The property tax levy of the District is set by the Metropolitan Mosquito Control
Commission. Distribution of the levy between the counties in the District is
set by the Commissioner of Revenue, acting as the State Board of Equalization,
and based on the budget established by MMCD. The levies are certified to Anoka,
Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington Counties. The levies
are limited to the statutory levy limitation in each of the Counties.
The District's final levy was certified to the Minnesota Department of Revenue
by
December 28, 2001. A lien is created when the levy is certified.
Property taxes are payable in equal installments by real property owners to
the counties on May 15 and October 15. In general, the counties remit the collection
to MMCD after each payment date.
The member counties make collections and forward payment to the District. Payments
for the May 15 due date were to be forwarded by July 5, 2002. On December 3,
2002 all collections through November 20, 2002 were due to the District. The
balance of all 2002 collections was due by January 27, 2003.
Taxes payable on homestead property are partially reduced by a homestead credit.
This credit is paid to MMCD by the state in lieu of taxes levied against homestead
property. The state remits this credit in two equal installments in July and
December each year.
Other County Income includes payments in lieu of taxes and other non-levy collections.
K. Budget
The 2002 adopted annual budget for operations was $10,466,145. The Commission
revised the budget increasing it to $11,286,145 to address service and disease
requirements. The Commission has designated $500,000 of the fund balance for
emergency disease vector control, as well as $50,000 for education.
2. Capital Assets
A. Furniture and Equipment / Motor Vehicles
A summary of changes in general fixed assets as of December 31, 2002 follows:
Furniture
Motor &
Vehicles Equipment Total
Balance
Jan 1, 2002 $2,606,651 $1,566,279 $4,172,930
Additions 221,425 112,643 334,068
Deletions (Disposition) ( 183,804) ( 125,660) ( 309,464)
Balance
Dec 31, 2002 $2,644,272 $1,553,262 $4,197,534
Accumulated
Depreciation ( 1,267,004) (1,232,190) (2,499,194)
Balance Net of
Depreciation
Dec 31, 2002 $1,377,268 $ 321,072 $1,698,340
Current Year
Depreciation ($ 227,156) ($132,659) ($ 359,815)
The threshold for capitalization is $400. The District is recording depreciation
on capital assets, as better information can be provided for decision making.
The method of depreciation used is straight line. The estimated useful life
of the assets is as follows:
Vehicles 12 yrs Salvage value 15% of purchase
Equipment 10 yrs. Salvage value 5% of purchase
Computer & Application
Equipment 5 yrs. Salvage value 0% of purchase
Buildings 30 yrs. Salvage value 0% of purchase
Equipment and vehicles in use more than six months are depreciated in the first
year.
There has been $200,000 designated in the fund balance for equipment replacement.
B. Building and Land
The following is a schedule of values of headquarters operating buildings owned
by the District. Depreciation and value net of depreciation is included. Buildings
and improvements will not be depreciated until after being in use for at least
one year. The Anoka operating headquarters is on land owned by Anoka County
being leased at $1 per year for 99 years. Should the District break the lease,
Anoka County is to purchase the building at its depreciated value as calculated
using 20 years straight-line depreciation. This facility was built in 1984-85
and expanded in 1992. The Jordan headquarters was constructed in 1991. The Administrative
Research headquarters was constructed in 1992-93. The Rosemount headquarters
was completed in 1994. The two Hennepin County facilities were purchased in
1993 and remodeling was completed in 1994. In 1997 an appraisal was made of
the land at the Jordan headquarters to determine its value for reporting purposes.
The result is an increase in land value at that site.
Building
Land (Not Depre.)
Building Cost 01/01/02
Add/ Del
Building Cost 12/31/02
Accumulated
Depreciation
Net BuildingValue
CurrentYearDepre.
Anoka
$ -0-
$ 723,596
$ 3,916
$ 727,512
$ (329,628)
$ 397,884
$ 24,720
Jordan
47,000
781,022
3,916
784,938
(297,411)
487,527
26,870
Admn/ Research
530,202
2,705,231
7,282
2,712,513
(969,652)
1,742,861
96,425
Rosemount
187,381
856,987
3,916
860,903
(248,670)
612,233
28,970
Maple Grove
225,744
838,077
4,066
842,143
(245,115)
597,028
28,235
Plymouth
128,540
888,943
4,066
893,009
(262,767)
630,242
29,820
Totals
$ 1,118,867
$ 6,793,856
$ 27,162
$ 6,821,018
$ (2,353,243)
$ 4,467,775
$ 235,040
The District has completed all planned construction projects. The buildings
provide suitable working conditions and space for internal meetings and other
agency use. Some space is currently rented to other agencies. A portion of the
fund balance, $588,000 has been designated for facilities repair and upkeep.
3. Changes in Long-Term Liabilities
The District long-term liabilities consist of compensated absences for employee
vacation, sick leave and compensatory time benefits. These benefits are determined
based on a formula with a maximum number of hours accumulated and are payable
upon death, termination or retirement. Calculations include employer's share
of Social Security and Medicare taxes. Prior to 1997, only vested accrued benefits
were shown. The current portion of this liability is reflected in the general
fund, while the total liability is reflected in the government-wide Statement
of Net Assets under the heading Employee Benefits Payable.
The following is a summary of employee benefit transactions of the Metropolitan
Mosquito Control District for the year ended December 31, 2002. Employees accumulate
earned but unused vacation and sick leave, some of which is available for severance
or retirement payments.
Employee benefits payable at Jan. 1, 2002 $649,793
Portion currently payable in 2002 (32,807)
Long term employee benefits payable at
Jan. 1, 2002 616,986
Net change in compensated absences 71,367
Long-term employee benefits payable at
December 31, 2002 $688,353
4. Deferred Revenue
The deferred revenue balance at December 31, 2002 was $827,291 consisting of
taxes and other receivables, which are not expected to be collected within 60
days as required by GASB 33 and NCGA Interpretation 3. In addition, $440,900
is estimated uncollectible in the future based on historical experience.
5. Leases
Operating leases consist of rental of the Ramsey/Washington Division headquarters
and lease of a new District wide telephone system. The following is a yearly
schedule of future minimum rental payments under the operating leases (including
base rent, property taxes and operating costs):
2003 $191,175
2004 200,990
2005 204,915
2006 207,615
2007 210,365
Total minimum lease payments $1,015,060
The District has renewed the headquarters lease agreement through 2005 and can
extend it until 2010 at an increase of 2 percent per year. The lease for the
telephone system is a five year operating lease to expire in 2007. Total rental
expense is as follows:
2001 $174,569
2002 $178,351
The District had no rental expenditures for equipment in either of these years.
In 2002 vehicles were rented short-term for $950.
6. Retirement Plan
The following pension disclosures are made to comply with GASB Statement 27,
"Accounting for Pensions by State and Local Government Employers."
A. Plan Description
All full-time and certain part-time employees of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control
District are covered by defined benefit pension plans administered by the Public
Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota (PERA). PERA administers the Public
Employees Retirement Fund (PERF), which is a cost-sharing multiple-employer
retirement plan. These plans are established and administered in accordance
with Minnesota Statutes Chapters 353 and 356.
PERF members belong to either the Coordinated Plan or the Basic Plan. Coordinated Plan members are covered by Social Security and Basic Plan members are not. All new members must participate in the Coordinated Plan.
PERA provides retirement benefits as well as disability benefits to members, and benefits to survivors upon death of eligible members. Benefits are established by state statute, and vested after three years of credited service. The defined retirement benefits are based on a member's highest average salary for any five successive years of allowable service, age, and years of credit at termination of service.
Two methods are used to compute benefits for PERF's Coordinated and Basic Plan
members. The retiring member receives the higher of a step-rate benefit accrual
formula (Method 1) or a level accrual formula (Method 2). Under Method 1, the
annuity accrual rate for a Basic Plan member is 2.2 percent of average salary
for each of the first 10 years of service and 2.7 percent for each remaining
year. The annuity accrual rate for a Coordinated Plan member is 1.2 percent
of average salary for each of the first 10 years and 1.7 percent for each remaining
year. Under Method 2, the annuity accrual rate is 2.7 percent of average salary
for Basic Plan members and 1.7 percent for Coordinated Plan members for each
year of service. For PERF members hired prior to July 1, 1989 whose annuity
is calculated using Method 1, a full annuity is available when age plus years
of service equal 90. Normal retirement age is 65 for Basic and Coordinated members
hired prior to July 1, 1989. Normal retirement age is the age for unreduced
Social Security benefits capped at 66 for Coordinated members hired on or after
July 1, 1989. A reduced retirement annuity is also available to eligible members
seeking early retirement.
There are different types of annuities available to members upon retirement.
A single-life annuity is a lifetime annuity that ceases upon the death of the
retiree-no survivor annuity is payable. There are also various types of joint
and survivor annuity options available which will be payable over joint lives.
Members may also leave their contributions in the fund upon termination of public
service in order to qualify for a deferred annuity at retirement age. Refunds
of contributions are available at any time to members who leave public service,
but before retirement benefits begin.
The benefit provisions stated in the previous paragraphs of this section are
current provisions and apply to active plan participants. Vested, terminated
employees who are entitled to
benefits but are not receiving them yet, are bound by the provisions in effect
at the time they last terminated their public service.
PERA issues a publicly available financial report that includes financial statements
and required supplementary information for PERF. That report may be obtained
on the web at mnpera.org, by writing to PERA, 60 Empire Drive Suite 200, St.
Paul, Minnesota, 55103-2088 or by calling (651) 296-7460 or 1-800-652-9026.
B. Funding Policy
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 353 sets the rates for employer and employee contributions.
These statutes are established and amended by the state Legislature. The District
makes annual contributions to the pension plans equal to the amount required
by state statutes. PERF Basic Plan members and Coordinated Plan members are
required to contribute 9.10 percent and 5.10 percent, respectively, of their
annual covered salary. The District is required to contribute the following
percentages of annual covered payroll: 11.78 percent for Basic Plan PERF members,
5.53 percent for Coordinated Plan PERF members. The District's contributions
to the Public Employees Retirement Fund for the years ending December 31, 2000,
2001, and 2002 were $253,783, $264,364, and $302,676, respectively. The District's
contributions were equal to the contractually required contributions for each
year as set by state statute.
7. Patents
The District has received two patents from the U.S. Patent Office. In 2002,
$187,490.69 in royalties was collected from the patents, $20,000 of which was
not due until 2003. After fees are recovered, 25 percent will be paid to the
former Director. Fees have been recovered on one of the patents. In 2002, a
payment of $47,040.24, including royalties and interest, was made to the former
Director. As he has terminated employment with the District, he will be entitled
to 25 percent for the duration of the patents. The patents are for the process
currently used for manufacturing control material briquettes. The District has
licensed rights to manufacture the briquettes to a private company, and revenue
will accrue to the District from sales to entities other than the District.
The District to date has not been successful licensing additional development
rights. The first patent was issued on June 2, 1987; the second on March 22,
1988.
Report on Compliance and on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in Accordance with Government
Auditing Standards
Commissioner Tony Bennett, Chair
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Members of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
Mr. Joseph Sanzone, Executive Director
Metropolitan Mosquito Control District
We have audited the financial statements of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control
District as of and for the years ended December 31, 2002 and 2001, and have
issued our report thereon dated May 23, 2003. We conducted our audit in accordance
with 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.
Compliance
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's 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 Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's internal control over financial reporting in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the financial statements and not to provide assurance on the internal control over financial reporting. Our consideration of the internal control over financial reporting would not necessarily disclose all matters in the internal control over financial reporting that might be material weaknesses.
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 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. We noted no matters involving the internal control over financial reporting and its operation that we consider to be material weaknesses.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District's management and the Legislative Audit Commission and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
/s/ James R. Nobles /s/ Claudia J. Gudvangen, CPA
James R. Nobles Claudia J. Gudvangen, CPA
Legislative Auditor Deputy Legislative Auditor
May 23, 2003
Status of Prior Audit Issues
As of May 23, 2003
Most Recent Audit
The Office of the Legislative Auditor performs an annual audit of the Metropolitan Mosquito Control District. Legislative Audit Report 02-47, dated July 18, 2002, covered the year ended December 31, 2001. The audit scope included those areas material to the District's financial statements for the year then ended. The report contained no findings.