VLAWMO Annual Financial Report 2009

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VADNAIS LAKE AREA WATER MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION VADNAIS HEIGHTS, MINNESOTA NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2009 Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES A. Reporting Entity The Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Organization (the Organization) was established to meet the requirements of the Metropolitan Surface Water Management Act, re -codified as Minnesota Statutes chapters 103-b and 103-d. The general purpose of the Organization is to establish a jointly and cooperatively developed water management plan and program to (1) protect, preserve, and use natural surface and groundwater storage and retention systems; (2) minimize capital expenditures necessary to correct flooding and water quality problems; (3) identify and plan for means to effectively protect and improve surface and groundwater quality; (4) establish more uniform local policies and official controls for surface water, wetland and groundwater management; (5) prevent erosion of soil into surface water systems; (6) promote groundwater recharge; (7) protect and enhance fish and wildlife habitat and water recreational facilities, and secure other benefits associated with the proper management of surface ground water, and be in accordance with the Act. The Organization is governed by a Board of Directors which consists of six members, one from each of the following governmental units: City of North Oaks, City of White Bear Lake, City of Lino Lakes, White Bear Township, City of Vadnais Heights and the City of Gem Lake. The Board exercises legislative authority and determines all matters of policy. The Board appoints personnel responsible for the proper administration of all affairs relating to the Organization's activities. The Organization has considered all potential units for which it is financially accountable, and other organizations for which the nature and significance of their relationship with the Organization are such that exclusion would cause the Organization's financial statements to be misleading or incomplete. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) has set forth criteria to be considered in determining financial accountability. These criteria include appointing a voting majority of an organization's governing body, and (1) the ability of the primary government to impose its will on that organization or (2) the potential for the organization to provide specific benefits to, or impose specific financial burdens on the primary government. The Organization has no component units that meet the GASB criteria. B. Government -wide and Fund Financial Statements The government -wide financial statements (i.e., the statements of net assets and the statements of changes in net assets) report information on all of the non -fiduciary activities of the Organization. The statement of activities demonstrates the degree to which the direct expenses of a given function or segment is offset by program revenues. Direct expenses are those that are clearly identifiable with a specific function or segment. Program revenues include 1) charges to customers or applicants who purchase, use, or directly benefit from goods, services, or privileges provided by a given function or segment and 2) grants and contributions that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital requirements of a particular function or segment. Other items not properly included among program revenues are reported instead as general revenues. Separate financial statements are provided for governmental funds. Major individual governmental funds are reported as separate columns in the fund financial statements. -31-