Annual Financial Report 12/31/1985

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CITY OF LINO LAKES, MINNESOTA NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 1985 Note 2 - DETAIL NOTES ON ALL FUND AND ACCOUNT GROUPS (Continued) MUNICIPAL STATE AID ALLOTMENTS FOR STREET CONSTRUCTION Municipal State Aid (MSA) is recognized as revenue in the period the funds are designated for specific construction projects. LOCAL GOVERNMENT AID REVENUE RECOGNITION Local government aid is provided by the State. This aid is provided as a shared tax based upon a statutory formula and without restrictions. Payment from the State is generally received during each calendar year. The City recognizes local government aid revenue when it becomes both measurable and available to finance current operations. In practice, local government aid is recognized as revenue as it is received in cash. PROPERTY TAX REVENUE RECOGNITION The City Council annually adopts a tax levy and certifies it to the County for collection. The County is responsible for billing and collecting all property taxes for itself, the City, the local School District and other taxing authorities. These taxes are payable by May 15 and October 15 of each calendar year by the property owners. These taxes are collected by the County and remitted to the City by approximately July 15 and December 15. Additionally, delinquent collections (November through February) are remitted to the City each April. The City has no ability to enforce payment of property taxes by property owners. The County possesses this authority. Pursuant to State Statutes, a property shall be subject to a tax forfeit sale after 3 years unless it is homesteaded, agricultural, or seasonal recreational land (as defined in state statutes) in which event the property is subject to such sale after 5 years. The City recognizes property tax revenue when it becomes both measurable and available to finance expenditures of the current period. In practice, current and delinquent taxes and homestead credits received by the City are recognized as revenue for the current year. Additionally, taxes collected by the County by December 31 (remitted to the City the following April) and credits not received at the normal time are recognized as revenue for the current year. Homestead credits received by the City from the State are recognized as revenue" when received in cash. Unpaid delinquent taxes are generally measurable but not available to finance the expenditures of the current year. Accordingly, these taxes are not recognized as revenue until they are collected by the County. Unpaid delinquent property taxes are reflected in the balance sheets at December 31 subject to a 100% allowance for doubtful accounts and deferred revenue. This accounting practice is at nominal variance with generally accepted accounting principles in that the deferred income position (i.e., that part of delinquent taxes expected to be collected over the next several years) technically should be shown separately as a liability. However, this variance is immaterial and the cost of determining this measurement and reclassification does or could exceed the benefit. Additionally, this variance has no effect upon the operating statements of the City.