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<br />City of Key West, Florida <br /> <br />CURRENT YEAR FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: <br /> <br />2009-01: Adopt a Formal Cost Allocation Plan <br /> <br />The City has not adopted a formal cost allocation plan that details the various methodologies <br />used to support expenditure allocations such as: 1) payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) from each <br />enterprise fund to the general fund and 2) charges from the internal service fund to every <br />fund/department for various insurances. This situation has caused and may cause future delays in <br />the approval and payment process of grant funding to the City. We recommend that the <br />management of the City develops a formal cost allocation plan, reviewed annually, that reflects a <br />measurement of costs charged to the individual funds/departments. <br /> <br />Management's Response: <br /> <br />The City strongly endorses the need for a formal cost allocation plan. The City has requested <br />cost proposals from its financial consultants. Proposals have been received and are under review. <br />The goal is to award a task order and complete the cost allocation plan by September 30, 2010. <br /> <br />2009-02: Adopt a Formal Fund Balance Policy <br /> <br />We recommend that the City establish a formal fund balance policy. This policy should be <br />tailored to the needs of the City to insure against unanticipated events that would adversely affect <br />the financial condition of the City and jeopardize the continuation of necessary public services. <br />This policy should ensure that the City monitors and maintains adequate fund balance/net assets <br />and reserves in the City's various operating funds to provide: I) sufficient cash flow for daily <br />financial needs, 2) secure and maintain investment grade bond ratings, 3) offset significant <br />economic downturns or revenue shortfalls, and 4) provide funds for unforeseen expenditures <br />related to emergencies. As the policy is developed, the City should consider the new Government <br />Accounting Standards Board (GASB) pronouncement No. 54, "Fund Balance Reporting and <br />Governmental Fund Type Definitions" that will become effective for the fiscal year ending <br />September 30, 2011. <br /> <br />Management's Response: <br /> <br />The City's policy has always been to maintain between 90 to 120 days of unreserved fund <br />balance in each fund, The City fully supports the need to formalize this policy and will prepare a <br />resolution for adoption by the City Commission. Such policy should not only establish a sound <br />unreserved fund balance level but establish an action plan required when balances fall below <br />acceptable levels. <br /> <br />Section 1O.554(1)(i)4., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address violations of <br />provisions of contracts or grant agreements, or abuse, that have an effect on the financial <br />statements that is less than material but more than inconsequential. In connection with our audit, <br />we did not have any such findings. <br /> <br />Section 1O.554(1)(i)5., Rules of the Auditor General, provides that the auditor may, based on <br />professional judgment, report the following matters that have an inconsequential effect on <br />financial statement, considering both quantitative and qualitative factors: (1) violations of <br />provisions of contracts or grant agreements, fraud, illegal acts, or abuse, and; (2) control <br />deficiencies that are not significant deficiencies. In connection with our audit, we did not have <br />any such findings. <br /> <br />9 <br />