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<br />-2- <br />ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND MANAGEMENT JUDGMENTS <br /> <br />Accounting estimates are an integral part of the financial statements prepared by management and are <br />based on management’s knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions about <br />future events. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the <br />financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ <br />significantly from those expected. The most sensitive estimates affecting the financial statements were : <br /> <br />• Depreciation – Management’s estimates of depreciation expense are based on the estimated <br />useful lives of the assets. <br /> <br />• OPEB and Pension Benefits – The City has recorded liabilities and activity for other <br />post-employment benefits (OPEB) and pension benefits. Actuarial estimates of these obligations <br />are calculated using actuarial methodologies described in Governmental Accounting Standards <br />Board Statement Nos. 68 and 75. The actuarial calculations include significant assumptions, <br />including projected changes, healthcare insurance costs, investment returns, retirement ages, <br />proportionate share, and employee turnover. <br /> <br />• Value of Land Held for Resale – These assets are stated at the lower of cost or acquisition value <br />based on management’s estimates. <br /> <br />• Compensated Absences – Management’s estimate is based on current rates of pay, unused <br />compensated absence balances, and the likelihood compensated absences will be paid out over <br />the course of employment or at termination. <br /> <br />We evaluated the key factors and assumptions used by management to develop these estimates in <br />determining that they are reasonable in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. <br /> <br />Certain financial statement disclosures are particularly sensitive because of their significance to financial <br />statement users. The disclosures included in the notes to the basic financial statements related to OPEB <br />and pension benefits are particularly sensitive, due to the materiality of the liabilities, and the large and <br />complex estimates involved in determining the disclosures. <br /> <br />The financial statement disclosures are neutral, consistent, and clear. <br /> <br />DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN PERFORMING THE AUDIT <br /> <br />We encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing and completing our <br />audit. <br /> <br />CORRECTED AND UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS <br /> <br />Professional standards require us to accumulate all known and likely misstatements identified during the <br />audit, other than those that are clearly trivial, and communicate t hem to the appropriate level of <br />management. Management has corrected all such misstatements. In addition, none of the misstatements <br />detected as a result of audit procedures and corrected by management were material, either individually or <br />in the aggregate, to each opinion unit’s financial statements taken as a whole. <br /> <br />DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT <br /> <br />For purposes of this report, a disagreement with management is a financial accounting, reporting, or <br />auditing matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction that could be significant to the financial <br />statements or the auditor’s report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during the <br />course of our audit.