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Cash management policies and practices. The City's policy is to invest all available moneys at competitive <br />rates in accordance with Minnesota law. Investments are made by minimizing credit and market risks while <br />maintaining a competitive yield. Funds are invested in certificates of deposit, commercial paper and U.S. <br />government agencies. Cash is pooled in one account to provide maximum return. The City Council reviews the <br />investment policy annually and last amended it in 1998. The City has implemented the Government Accounting <br />Standards Board (GASB) Statement No. 40 relating to Deposit and Investment Risk Disclosures and amending <br />GASB Statement No. 3, which can be found in the Notes to the Financial Statements beginning on page 42. <br />Cash temporarily idle during the year was invested in certificates of deposit, commercial paper, and obligations <br />of the U.S. Treasury. The City's investment policy's primary objective is safety of principal. Therefore, all <br />deposits were either insured by Federal depository insurance or were collateralized as required by State Statute. <br />Due to the weakened economy, a low interest rate environment has persisted over the few years and has had a <br />significant impact on the city's investment earnings. The average yield on investments for 2006 was 5.14 %. <br />Investment income includes positive or negative changes in the fair value of investments. Changes in fair value <br />during the current year, however, do not necessarily represent trends that will continue; nor is it always possible <br />to realize such amounts, especially in the case of temporary changes in the fair value of investments the city <br />intends to hold to maturity. <br />Risk management. The City's general property, liability and worker's compensation coverage is provided <br />through the League of Minnesota Cities Trust (LMCIT). <br />At the beginning of the insurance year, the city deposits with LMCIT a premium determined by calculating <br />estimated payroll and applying experience modification ratios. An audit is performed at the end of the insurance <br />year, which may produce a refund or an adjustment due. LMCIT's reserves and rates are reviewed annually by <br />an actuary to assure that the program remains financially strong. <br />Pension benefits. The City of Lino Lakes participates in a statewide defined benefit pension plan administered <br />by the Public Employees Retirement Association of Minnesota (PERA). All full -time and part-time employees <br />are covered by. PERA. PERA administers the Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) which is a cost - <br />sharing, multiple - employer retirement plan. A plan description and funding policy are included in the Notes to <br />the Financial Statements beginning on page 49. <br />Awards and Acknowledgements <br />The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awards the Certificate <br />of Achievement for excellence in financial reporting to cities that meet certain criteria. The City of Lino Lakes <br />received this award for its comprehensive annual financial report for the year ended December 31, 2005. This <br />marks the tenth consecutive year that the city has received this prestigious award. A governmental unit must <br />publish an easily readable and efficiently organized comprehensive annual financial report, the contents of which <br />conform to program requirements. This report must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and <br />applicable legal requirements. <br />A Certificate of Achievement is valid for a period of one year only. The City is submitting the 2006 report to <br />GFOA for consideration of the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. We believe <br />our current report continues to conform to the high standards of the Certificate program. <br />The timely preparation of this report could not have been accomplished without the dedicated services of the <br />Finance Department, auditors and other city staff. <br />6 <br />