The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) issued Statement No. 54. This Statement clarifies the definitions of governmental fund types which may result in some of our funds, in particular-special revenue funds, becoming part of our general fund for external financial reporting unless the City takes specific action. These changes will affect the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011.
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue confirmed that they do not have the authority under Wisconsin Statutes to change how a municipality qualifies for the ERP. The city must follow generally accepted accounting principles, as set by the GASB.
With the Wisconsin Department of Revenue distributing close to $60M from its expenditure restraint program (ERP) each year and the City receiving $110,000 of these funds last year and having budgeted for them in 2011, it becomes important to meet the requirements of GASB. The unrestricted aid is paid to qualifying municipalities that limit growth in spending. Staff recommends allowing the reclassifying of the special revenue funds into the general fund as a result of GASB 54, because we would exceed the allowable increase, thereby disqualifying the city from receiving the ERP payment.
Staff is requesting the Council take the appropriate action by approving a resolution restricting/committing the special revenue funds. By analyzing all of the special revenue funds, we have determined that they meet the GASB new definition’s three basic features.
The first is that the funds must be either restricted or committed. Restricted means constraints are placed on the revenue by external factors (creditors, grantors, contributors, or laws/regulations of other governments, or local ordinance). Committed means the revenue can only be used for specified purposes, and this constraint must be set by the Council by approving a resolution or a motion. It could also be done by formally adopting a budget policy, financial policy, or separate policy committing these funds. Including these funds as an item in the government’s budget does not automatically qualify as a commitment according to GASB 54. If the funds are not restricted or committed, they may have to become part of the general fund. Staff has always treated the special revenue funds as restricted/committed, but there is no official policy statement by the Council.
GASB 54 also requires that a specific revenue source make up a substantial portion of the resources of the special revenue fund. Transfers in from another fund are allowed, but may not be part of the specific revenue sources. Lastly, the restriction or commitment discussed above must be for expenditures of a specific program. Items such as “contingencies” or “emergencies” would not qualify.
This resolution provides the official statement of restriction/commitment needed to meet GASB requirements.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Outdoor Storage
The petitioners are requesting approval of a temporary waiver of zoning requirements to allow outdoor storage of industrial forms and molds on a lot under separate ownership. The industrial forms and molds are associated with Fiberdome at 865 Stony Road. The subject corner lot at the intersection of CP and Jefferson Streets is currently used as a mini warehouse and is zoned I-4 Industrial Business Park.
The I-4 District states that outdoor storage of materials or manufactured products, trucks trailers and equipment accessory to the principal use. Such outdoor storage shall be screened from view from any public right-of-way using opaque fencing, berms, dense landscaping, or any combination thereof. Outdoor storage may not be placed in any front or corner side yard. This motion authorizes the City Manager to sign the agreement.
It is typical to provide a waiver for temporary structures and outdoor storage incidental to construction activities subject to site plan approval, such as construction trailers, portable garbage bins, portable sanitation facilities, etc. from standard zoning requirements. These temporary structures and outdoor storage are required to be removed upon the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy or abandonment of the work. The City Manager provided Fiberdome with a temporary waiver for the outdoor storage of industrial forms and molds at 730 Jefferson Street under this standard.
The current request would extend this waiver until spring. This clearly violates the zoning code requirements. The building Inspector would have to hold off on issuing the final certificate of occupancy until the spring to sidestep zoning requirements.
The I-4 District states that outdoor storage of materials or manufactured products, trucks trailers and equipment accessory to the principal use. Such outdoor storage shall be screened from view from any public right-of-way using opaque fencing, berms, dense landscaping, or any combination thereof. Outdoor storage may not be placed in any front or corner side yard. This motion authorizes the City Manager to sign the agreement.
It is typical to provide a waiver for temporary structures and outdoor storage incidental to construction activities subject to site plan approval, such as construction trailers, portable garbage bins, portable sanitation facilities, etc. from standard zoning requirements. These temporary structures and outdoor storage are required to be removed upon the issuance of a final certificate of occupancy or abandonment of the work. The City Manager provided Fiberdome with a temporary waiver for the outdoor storage of industrial forms and molds at 730 Jefferson Street under this standard.
The current request would extend this waiver until spring. This clearly violates the zoning code requirements. The building Inspector would have to hold off on issuing the final certificate of occupancy until the spring to sidestep zoning requirements.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Public Works
The importance of public works is diminished only to the extent that expected service levels are maintained. Not many would care to debate the importance of snow removal when failure to efficiently accomplish that function could prevent citizens from getting to their places of employment, emergency equipment from reaching the site of the emergency, or commercial and industrial operations from conducting their daily business. The efficient provision of utility service to residential, commercial, or industrial customers is critical to quality of life and safety of a community. Economic development is made more difficult if inefficient utility operations or degraded transportation systems are typical in a community.
Currently, four different departments are responsible for ensuring that the City plans, develops and uses its infrastructure resources in the most effective way: Executive Department, Street Department, Wastewater Utility and Light and Water Utility. The City’s infrastructure and community planning are managed through the Executive Office with contracted consultants and this increases the opportunities for coordination required for “Growth and Infrastructure” because effective communication can occur across department lines. At the same time, cross departmental coordination can be limited by department designed projects, resulting in a lack of overall department responsiveness to potential opportunities and stakeholder needs.
The city has twenty four utility and street line employees. The street department structure has a superintendent, working foreman, mechanic, heavy equipment operators, semi skilled laborers and general laborers. The number of street department employees is structured or determined by emergency snow removal operations critical path modeling. The heavy snow removal operation of the city has nine (9) employees plus supervisory staff as required by the level of service the resident’s desires. The department has labor and equipment to support regular maintenance of infrastructure and complete emergency operations. The city street department has fewer employees currently then in 1990 even though the population served and street miles maintained has increased. Better equipment would also contribute to any crew’s ability to perform its tasks in an effective and efficient manner.
Currently, four different departments are responsible for ensuring that the City plans, develops and uses its infrastructure resources in the most effective way: Executive Department, Street Department, Wastewater Utility and Light and Water Utility. The City’s infrastructure and community planning are managed through the Executive Office with contracted consultants and this increases the opportunities for coordination required for “Growth and Infrastructure” because effective communication can occur across department lines. At the same time, cross departmental coordination can be limited by department designed projects, resulting in a lack of overall department responsiveness to potential opportunities and stakeholder needs.
The city has twenty four utility and street line employees. The street department structure has a superintendent, working foreman, mechanic, heavy equipment operators, semi skilled laborers and general laborers. The number of street department employees is structured or determined by emergency snow removal operations critical path modeling. The heavy snow removal operation of the city has nine (9) employees plus supervisory staff as required by the level of service the resident’s desires. The department has labor and equipment to support regular maintenance of infrastructure and complete emergency operations. The city street department has fewer employees currently then in 1990 even though the population served and street miles maintained has increased. Better equipment would also contribute to any crew’s ability to perform its tasks in an effective and efficient manner.
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