HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-05-05 Audit Committee Minutes 0,4 0",40
Town of Reading
Meeting Minutes
board - committee - commission - council: 2012 JAN 15 AM 8: 21
Audit Committee
Date: 2016-05-05 Time: 7:30 PM
Building: Reading Town Hall Location: Berger Room
Address: 16 Lowell Street
Purpose: FYSS Audit Results and FY16 Audit Planning
Attendees: Members - Present:
Barry Berman, Phil B. Pacino, Paul M[Neice, Mark Dockser and Stephen
Herrick
Members - Not Present:
Chuck Robinson and lean Borawski
Others Present:
Sharon Angstrom, Ed Boyd and Scott McIntire
Minutes Respectfully Submitted By: Sharon Angstrom
Topics of Discussion:
Mr. Dockser called the meeting to order and asked the Committee if they had an
opportunity to review the minutes from May 15, 2015. Mr. Pacino made a motion to accept
the minutes as written with a correction to the spelling of Mr. McNelce which was seconded
by Mr. MCNeice. The Audit Committee voted 4-0-1 to accept the minutes as written.
Mr. Dockser Instructed Mr. McIntire to begin the review of the FY15 audit results. Mr.
McIntire started by saying that in his opinion the audit went very well. He pointed out that
no material journal entries were proposed and that the records are In good working order.
He noted that the auditor's opinion Is found on pages 1-3 of the financial statements. He
stated the opinion is that the financial statements present fairly in all material respects, the
financial position of governmental and business-type activities of the Town of Reading.
Mr. McIntire explained that the FY 15 financials include changes related to GASB 68 that
requires the net pension liability to appear on the face of the Balance Sheet. In the past this
liability was in the disclosures but did not appear as a liability on the face of the financials.
Mr. McIntire then directs the Committee Members to turn to page 5 where the Manager
Discussion and Analysis begins. He points out that this section gives a snapshot of the
General Fund. It is a great resource as it summarizes the key elements of the General Fund.
McIntire then points out on the bottom of page 10 the unassigned fund balance as of
6/30/15 was just over $11.9 million up $454k from last year but as a percent of
expenditures it went from 13.2% to 14.5%. McIntire pointed out that this is a solid
increase. He referenced a chart In the middle of page 11 that summarizes the balances of
the stabilization accounts as of 6/30/15 as compared to 6/30/14 noting that the balances
remain stable in these accounts.
McIntire then pointed out that at the bottom of page 11 there is a chart that provides a 6
year trend analysis of general fund balance. For 2015 total fund balance was just over
$16.98 million. The various components of the total fund balance are as follows rounded to
the nearest thousand:
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Committed for Stabilization 503
Assigned for Encumbrances 2,827
Assigned for Subsequent Year Exp. 1,800
Unassigned 11.853
Total Fund Balance $16,983
McIntire then directs the Committee to turn to pages 15-17. He notes that the Statement of
Net Position and The Statement of Activities provide a long term perspective. He points out
on the Statement of Net Position the unrestricted is -$20.6 million. The negative balance is
attributable to adding the net pension liability of$20.3 million for governmental and $25.8
million with enterprise Included. McIntire points out that band rating agencies will not be
shocked to see this liability as this in not a new liability it has been shown in the disclosures
until this point. He also comments that the Town's $25.8 million in pension liability is
smaller than many similar size communities. Mr. McIntire points out that there is a funding
schedule that provides an annual required contribution to fully fund this liability by 2029
and the town is fully funding Its annual required contribution.
Mr. McIntire pointed out on page 15 that the town's net OPEB obligation for governmental is
$15.9 million and $16.3 million in total Including enterprise funds. He further explained that
these figures do not represent the full OPEB liability but represent the shortfalls from the
annual required liability from the funding schedule. The enterprise funds have begun to fully
fund the annual required contribution for OPEB but the General Fund Is only able to fund an
additional $500k over the pay as you go amount, as a result, the liability increased by $1.6
million Mr. Dockser inquired how Reading compares to other communities as far as OPEB
funding. Mr. McIntire said Reading's OPEB liability is smaller than most of Its peers. Some
are fully funding but that Isn't common. Mr. Berman inquired what would happen if the town
funded the liability slower. Mr. McIntire explained that rating analysts comment on how
quickly debt and liabilities are paid off. Faster payback is viewed as a financial strength.
Mr. McIntire continued on page 18 stating that the change in net position unassigned fund
balance Is $11,852,773, up approximate $550,000 over prior. Mr. McIntire also states that
this is the first place the readers of the financial statements Nip to. McIntire explains that
unassigned fund balance is funds available for future use. He further explains that
unassigned fund balance Is not necessarily free cash; as DOR makes some adjustments.
Stabilization funds are considered unassigned unless the purpose is specified. McIntire then
directs the Committee to turn to pages 48-49 where the different types of fund balance is
detailed out. He notes that the unassigned fund balance includes $1.5 million in stabilization
funds. Assigned funds are encumbered funds or funds voted to fund next year's budget.
Nothing in the General fund is classified as non-spendable. Restricted funds are federal and
state grants and revolving funds.
Mr. McIntire then began reviewing the Management Letter with the Committee. He began by
stating that there were no significant weaknesses. The current year recommendations are
to prepare for Single Audit changes and to prepare for new GASB statements regarding
OPEB.
Mr. Pacino then moved to accept the Audit and Management Letter. Mr. Berman seconded
the motion. The Audit Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to accept the audit and
management letter.
The discussion was then shifted to areas of specific audit interest for the FY16 audit.
McIntire then referred the members to a departmental testing listing that showed when
each area was last tested. After discussion regarding the departmental tests that
are due to be tested, Mr. Pacino makes a motion to test revolving funds and Town Clerk
receipts. MCNeice seconded the motion. The Audit Committee voted unanimously (5-0) to
select these areas for departmental testing.
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Dockser noted he received the 3 year contract for the FY16 - FY 18 audits. Mr. McIntire
explained that the fees were going up by $6k in FY16 due to increase testing of census data
related to GASB 67. Mr. Berman made a motion to accept the contract, Mr. Pacino seconded
the motion. The Audit Committee voted to accept the engagement letter (5-0).
Mr. Berman made a motion at 9:15 to adjourn seconded by Mr. Pacino. The Audit
Committee voted to adjourn (5-0).
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