Fiscal Year 2008CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT
COURT
Financial Statements
• 6 - - - 0
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Independent Auditors' Report ................................... ............................................................. 2-3
BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Balance Sheet - Governmental Funds 4
Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and
Changes in Fund Balance - Governmental Funds ...................................................... 5
Statement of Fiduciary Assets and Liabilities - Agency Fund________________________________________ 6
Notes to Financial Statements 7-11
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures -
Budget to Actual - General Fund ................................................................................. 12
Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures —
Budget to Actual — Special Revenue Court Related Fund, .... .......... -------------- 13
Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures --
Budget to Actual — Special Revenue Records Modernization Fund.. ------ 14
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
Statement of Changes in Assets and Liabilities -
AgencyFund ------------------------------------------------- .............................................................. 15
SUPPLEMENTARY INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORTS
Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control over
Financial Reporting and on Compliance and Other Matters
Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed
In Accordance with Government Auditing Standards ............................................... 16-17
Independent Auditors' Management Letter ........................................... — .................. ..... 18-19
To the Honorable Danny L. Kolhage,
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida:
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of each major fund of the Monroe County,
Florida Clerk of the Circuit Court (the "Clerk") as of and for the year ended September 30, 2008,
which collectively comprise the Clerk's basic financial statements as listed in the table of contents.
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Clerk's management. Our responsibility is to
express opinions on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government
Auditing Standards issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. Those standards
require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the
financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also
includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management,
as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As discussed in Note 1, the accompanying financial statements were prepared for the purpose of
complying with Section 218.39(2), Florida Statutes, and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor
General -Local Governmental Entity Audits, and are not intended to be a complete presentation of
the financial position of Monroe County, Florida, and the results of its operations and the cash flows
of its proprietary funds in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United
States of America.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
respective financial position of each of the major funds of the Clerk as of September 30, 2008, and
the respective changes in financial position thereof for the year then ended, in conformity with
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated January
30, 2009 on our consideration of the Clerk's internal control over financial reporting and our tests of
its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts, and grant agreements, and
other matters. The purpose of that report is to describe the scope of our testing of internal control
over financial reporting and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion
on the internal control over financial reporting or on compliance. That report is an integral part of an
audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and should be considered in
assessing the results of our audit.
K
M QUMV; M-
sTatemenTS DILarOASS '0
Board. We have applied certain limited procedures, which consisted primarily of inquiries of
management regarding the methods of measurement and presentation of the required
supplementary information. However, we did not audit the information and we express no opinion
on
0 0 * z a 0 9 0
CHERRY, IBEKAERT & HOLLAND, L.L.P.
Orlando, Florida
January 30, 2009
0
� a a c: a
Balance Sheet
Governmental Funds
September 30, 2008
Major Funds
Court Records
General Relaited Modernization
Fund Fund Fund
W.'.
Cash and cash equivalents
$
978.231
Due from Board of County Commissioners
13,923
Due from other governments
26,056
Total assets
$
1,018,210
LJABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
Liabilities
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities
$
177,820
Due to Board of County Commissioners
812,422
Due to Florida Department of Revenue
-
Deferred revenue
Deposits
27,968
Total liabilities
1,018,210
Fund balances
Total liabilities and fund balances
$
1,018,210
1,507,210 $ 632.826 $ 3,118,267
1,664 - 16,487
25,126 - 61,182
1,533,900 $ 632,826 $ 3,184,936
$ 166,747 $ 1,063 $ 336,630
594,788 1,407,210
578,365 578,365
204,000 204,000
27,968
11.533,9130 1,063 2,553,173
- 631,763 631,763
$ 1,533,900 $ 632,528 $ 3,184,936
The notes to the financial statements
are an integral part of this statement.
4
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Vw P'nwt�1-F&&
Governmental Funds
Year Ended September 30, 2008
Revenues
Taxes
Intergovernmental
Charges for services
Fines and forfeitures
Interest income
kf-17711`77-7 =- 7
Expenditures
Current
General government
Salaries and benefits
Operating expenditures
Court related
Salaries and benefits
Operating expenditures
Capital outlay
Total expenditures
Excess of revenues over (under) expenditures
Other financing sources and (uses)
Major Funds
Court
Records
General
Related
Modernization
Fund
Fund
Fund
Totals
$ 273,821
$
$
$ 273,821
-
704,675
704,675
837,490
2,035,790
277,401
3,150,681
-
1,401,642
-
1,401,642
165,773
992
5,304
172,069
1,277,084
4,143,099
282,705
5,702,888
2,564,762 2,664,762
566,268 566,268
3,637,712
49,279
3,686,991
- 235,0311
537,191
772,222
10,892 36,827
29,864
77,683
3,141 ,922 3,909,570
616,334
7,667,826
(1,864,838) 233,529
(333,629)
(1,964,938)
Transfer from Board of County Commissioners 2,677,105 939,577 3,616,682
Transfer to Board of County Commissioners (812,267) (594,742) (1,407,009)
Transfer to Florida Department of Revenue (578,364) (578,364)
Total other financing sources and (uses) 1,864,838 (233,529) 1,631,309
Excess of expenditures and other financing
uses over revenues and other uses - (333,629) (333,629)
Fund balances, beginning of year
Fund balances, and of year
965,392 965,392
$ 631,763 $ 631,76=
The notes to the financial statements
are an integral part of this statement.
M
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
I -f 's � 0
Agency Fund
September 30, 2008
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
Due from others
Liabilities
Due to others
Due to Board of County Commissioners
Due to other governmental agencies
The notes to the financial statements
are an integral part of this statement. 6
$ 2,406,776
64,888
$ 2,471,664
1,668,183
98,933
704,548
Repo „ Entity - The Monroe County,Florida- of - Circuit Court-
separately elected county official established pursuant to the Constitution of the State of Florida.
The Clerk's financial statements do not purport to reflect the financial position or the results of
operations of Monroe County, Florida (the "County") taken as a whole. -
Entity status for financial reporting purposes is governed by Statement No. 14 and No. 39 of the
Governmental Accounting Standards r:. mil.:.• i Although _ Clerk's.'
autonomous from the County, it does not hold sufficient corporate powers of its own to be
considered legally separateentityfor -!# 1 purposes. Therefore, - Clerk
reported as . part of primarygovernment of County.
Description of Funds - The accounting records are organized for reporting purposes on the basis
of three governmental funds and a fiduciary fund.
General Fund - The General Fund is a governmental fund used to account for all revenues and
expenditures applicable to the general operations of the Cleric that are not required legally or by
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America to be accounted for in
another fund.
Court Related Fund — A special revenue fund is used to account for proceeds of specific
revenue sources that are legally restricted or committed to expenditures for specified purposes.
The Court Related Fund special revenue fund is used to account for revenues and expenditures
of court functions. Any excess fees over actual expenditures is returned to either the Florida
Department of Revenue by January 1 for the preceding county fiscal year or the Monroe County
Board of County Commissioners (the `Board"), depending on where the funds originated.
Records Modernization Fund - The Records Modernization Fund is a special revenue fund used
to account for recording fees restricted for records modernization pursuant to an act of the 1987
Florida Legislature. The proceeds are to be used exclusively for equipment, personnel training,
and technical assistance in modernizing the official records system and to pay for equipment
and start up costs necessitated by a state wide recording system.
Fiduciary Fund - The Fiduciary fund of the Clerk is an Agency Fund, which is used to accou
for assets held by - Clerk as agent.
Accounting,Measurement Focus, Basis of 1Financial Statement Presentation
Clerk's financial statements are prepared for the purpose of complying with Section 218.39(2),
Florida Statutes, and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General -Local Governmental Entity
Audits, which require the Clerk to only present fund financial statements.
FA
As of September 30, 2008, the Clerk's cash and cash equivalents are held in demand deposits with
a carrying amount of $5,525,043 and a bank balance of $5,542,156.
Demand and time deposits are fully insured • the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation • are
covered • the State • Florida collateral a•• a multiple institution pool with the ability to assess its
members for collateral if a member institution fails.
Florida Statutes authorize investments in certificates of deposit, savings accounts, the Local
Government Surplus Funds Trust Fund administered by the Florida State Board of Administration,
money market funds, direct obligations of the U.S. Treasury, and federal agencies and
instrumentalities and Intergovernmental Investment Pools that are authorized pursuant to the
Florida Interlocal Cooperation Act, as provided in Section 163.01, Florida Statutes. The Local
Government Surplus Funds Trust Fund is not rated as to credit quality risks.
Plan Descdpffon — The Clerk's employees participate in the Florida Retirement System ("FRS"),
administered by the Florida Department of Administration. Employees elect to participate in either
the defined benefit pian (4Pension Plan"), a cost sharing, multiple -employer, defined benefit
retirement, plan, or the defined contribution plan (Investment Plan) under the FRS. As a general
rule, membership in the FRS is compulsory for all employees working in a regularly established
position for a state agency, county government, district school board, state university, community
college, or a participating city or special district within the State of Florida. The FRS provides
retirement and disability benefits, annual cost -of -living adjustments, and death benefits to Plan
members and beneficiaries. Benefits are established by Chapter 121, Florida Statutes, and
Chapter 60S, Florida Administrative Code. Amendments to the law can be made only • an act •
the Florida Legislature.
leL;LI*FIUI 9111U01 ffit _18 seruce, Ur IFT
of service regardless of age, are entitled to a retirement benefit payable monthly for life equal to
3.0% of their final average compensation for each year of credited service. Senior Management
etffb ul 5drTlE;a reqarale55 01 age are unlKWU W a fellfeMenE DeHeTil PdJ'dU1U 111UHL111f lur 111-8, equal
to 2.0% of their final average compensation for each year of credited service. Elected Officers'
class employees who retire at or after age 62 with at least 6 years of credited service or 30 years of
service regardless of age are entitled to a retirement benefit payable monthly for life, equal to 3.0%
(3.33% for judges and justices) of their final average compensation for each year of credited
service. A post -employment health insurance subsidy is • provided to eligible retired employees
through the FRS in accordance with Florida Statutes.
In addition to the above benefits, the FRS administers a Deferred Retirement Option Program
("DROP"). This program allows eligible employees to defer receipt of monthly retirement benefit
payments - continuing employment with a FRS employer f• _ period notto exceed 61 months
2fter electing to participate. Deferred monthly benefits are held in the FRS Trust Fund and accrue
The State of Florida annually issues a publicly available financial report that includes financial
statements and required supplementary information for the FRS. The latest available report may be
obtained by writing to the State of Florida Division of Retirement, Department of Management
Services, P.O. Box 9000, Tallahassee, Florida 32315-9000 or accessing their internet site at
Funding Policy - The FRS is noncontributory for members. Governmental employers are required
to make contributions to the FRS based on statewide contribution rates. The contribution rates by
job class at September 30, 2008 were as follows: regular, 9.85%; special risk, 20.92%; special risk
administrative support, 12.55%; county elected officers, 16.53%; senior management, 13.12%; and
DROP participants, 10.91 %. During the fiscal year ended September 30, 2008, the Clerk
contributed to the Plan an amount equal to 10.31 % of covered payroll. Clerk contributions to the
FRS for the fiscal years ended September 30, 2006 through 2008 were $396,086, $473,712, and
$473,335, respectively, which were equal to the required contributions for each fiscal year. The
Clerk has historically contributed amounts equal to required contributions and, therefore, does not
have a pension asset or liability as determined in accordance with GASB Statement No. 27.
The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) administers a single -employer
defined benefit healthcare plan (the "Plan"). In accordance with Section 112.0801 of the Florida
Statutes, the BOCC is required to provide retirees with the opportunity to participate in this Plan
because Monroe County provides a medical plan to active County employees. The Plan provides
health care benefits including medical coverage, prescription drug benefits, dental benefits and life
insurance coverage to both active and eligible retired employees. The Plan does not issue a
publicly available financial report.
The BOCC may amend the plan design, with changes to the benefits, premiums and/or levels of
participant contribution at any time. The BOCC approves the rates for the coming calendar year for
the retiree and County contributions at an open session prior to the annual enrollment process.
Eligibility for post employment participation in the Plan is limited to full time employees of the
Board, the Constitutional Officers, the Land Authority, and retirees. Retirees hired after October 1,
2001 must contribute the premium determined by the BOCC for all participants prior to the annual
enrollment process. Retirees hired before October 1, 2001, who retire from the County with 10
years of full-time service and are covered by the Florida Retirement System, must contribute $50
from each Florida Health Insurance Subsidy payment from the Florida Retirement System. Other
10
f►T���!'�*]t�:1�:7�*��ii���l�R�]'1�',I�:�i=1��1����'i'i*7'�� 77 � • � : � �J
conditions apply to employees hired before October 1, 2001 who have retired before the normal
retirement date, have not reached ..- •i and whose ..- and years of - to the County !
not equal 70.
In conjunction with the implementation of GASB Statement 45 during fiscal year 2008, the BOCC
engaged an actuarial firm to determine the County's actuarially determined annual required
contribution and unfunded obligation- The Clerk has no responsibility to the Plan other than to
make the periodic payments determined by the BOCC. Further information about the Plan is
available in the County's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report which is published on the Clerk's
website at www. clerk-of-the-court.com.
The Clerk is exposed to various risks of loss related to tort; theft of, damage to and destruction of
assets; errors and omissions; injuries to employees; and natural disasters. The Clerk participates in
the coverage provided by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County Workers'
Compensation, Group Insurance, and Risk Management Internal Service Funds. Under these
programs, the Worker's Compensation Fund provides $1,000,000 coverage per claim for regular
employees. Workers' Compensation claims in excess of the self insured coverage are covered by
an excess insurance policy. Risk Management has a $5,000,000 excess insurance policy for
general liability claims with a $100,000 self -insured retention, and building property damage is
covered for the actual value of the building with a deductible between $100,000 and $250,000.
Deductibles for windstorm and flood vary by location. The County purchases commercial insurance
for claims in excess of coverage provided by the funds and for all other risks of loss. Settled claims
have not exceeded this commercial coverage in any of the past three years. The Clerk makes
payments to the Worker's Compensation, Group Insurance and Risk Management Funds based on
estimates of the amounts needed to pay prior and current year claims.
The funding received from the Board of County Commissioners (the "BOCC") is reported in these
financial statements as an other financing source" transfer pursuant to changes in the Florida
Uniform Accounting System. In prior years, the BOCC funding was reported as revenue from
charges for services.
- - • • I `. ._ - :. r • 'fq• . 1.
A- 11000-0010-010110.4004-0100
11
N� i cl XA I I'll I;M 0
Revenues
Taxes
Charges for services
Board of County Commissioners
Others
Interest income
Expenditures
Current
General government
Clerk recording
Clark information systems
Clerk finance
Internal audit
Tourist tax audit
Non -court administration
Non -court records management
Fe_TPTr_Tr,"T.T,TrM?"
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
General Fund
Year Ended September 30, 2008
Variance
Original Final Positive
Budget Budget Actual __AILG�s
202,192 $ 273,821 $ 71,629
2,881,781 - - -
1,080,000 1,080,000 837,490 (242510)
- - 165,773 165,773
3,961,781 1,282,192 1,277,084
I
642,792
642,792
512,045
130,747
687,965
658,765
523,064
135,701
1,587,345
1,587,345
1,508,033
79,312
217,413
246,613
246,496
117
202,192
202,192
131,684
70,508
127,370
127,370
110,127
17,243
139,248
139,248
110,473
28,775
3,604,325
3,604,325
3,1141,922
462,403
Excess of revenues over (under) expenditures 357,456 (2,322,133) (1,884,838) 457,295
Other financing sources and uses
Contingency (357,456) (357,456) - 357,456
Transfer from Board of County Commissioners 2,679,589 2,877,105 (2,484)
Transfer to Board of County Commissioners (812,267) (812,267)
Total other financing sources and uses - ------------(' jjj) - ------------ 2m322,1_33_. 1,864,838 (457,295)
Not change In fund balance
Fund balance, beginning of year
Fund balance, and of year
12
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
-9cXefyle if Revemues 2zi! F.Nrre;%-fitmres �Qvtjet-tlA
Special Revenue Court Related Fund
Year Ended September 30, 2008
Revenues
Intergovernmental
Charges for services
Board of County Commissioners
Others
Fines and forfeitures
Interest income
Expenatures
Current
Court Related
Clerk administration
Clerk records management
Clerk jury management
Clerk circuit court criminal
Clerk circuit court civil
Clerk circuit court family
Clerk circuit court juvenile
Clerk circuit court probate
Clerk county court criminal
Clerk county court civil
Clerk county court traffic
Excess of revenues over (under) expenditures
Other financing sources and uses
Contingency
Transfer from Board of County Commissioners
Transfer to Board of County Commissioners
Transfer to Florida Department of Revenue
Total other financing sources and uses
Not change In fund balance
Fund balance, beginning of year
Fund balance, end of year
wl1 z� "
Variance
Original Final Positive
Budget Bdg ctual (Negative)
$ 701,842 722,502 $ 704,675 $ (17,827)
985,272
2,030,000 2,030,000 2,035,790 5,790
1,470,000 1,470,000 1,401 ,642 (68,358)
992 992
5,187,1114 4,2225132 4,143,099 (79,403)
347,435
347,435
304,030
43,405
379.836
379,836
320,016
59,820
121,249
141,909
113,101
28,808
863,299
863,299
825,460
37,839
376,603
381,603
381,292
311
140,157
140,157
123,440
16,717
173,904.
173,904
125,719
48,185
95,323
95,323
88,919
6,404
727,565
722,565
618,866
105.699
265,835
265,835
196,989
68,846
896,035
896,035
813,738
82,297
4,387,2411
4,407,901
3,909,570
498,331_
79%873
(185,399
233,529
418,928
(457,847)
(457,847)
-
457,847
985,272
939,577
(45,695)
(342,026)
(342,026)
(594,742)
(252,716)
(578,364)
.. jA78,364
(799,873)
185,399
(233,529)
13
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COURT
Sshrnt,wls xf�RsvaNuse
Special Revenue Records Modernization Fund
Year Ended September 30, 2008
Special Revenue
Records ode
than and
Variance
Original
Final
Positive
Budget—
Budget
Actual
(Negative)
Revenues
Charges for services
Others
$ 440,000
$ 440,000 $
277,401
$ (162,599)
Interest Income
55,000
55,000
5,304
Total revenues
495,000
495,000
282,705
(212,295)
Expenditures
Current
Court related
Modernization trust
1,403,100
1,403,100
616,334
186,766
Total expenditures
1,403,100
1,403,100
616,334
786,766
Excess of revenues over (under) expenditures
(908,100)
(908,100)
(333,629)
574,471
Otherfinancing uses
Contingency
(155,900)
------- (155,900)
155,900
Total other financing uses
(155,900)
(155,900)
155,900
Not change in fund balance
(1,064,000)
(1,064,000)
(333,629)
730,371
Fund balance, beginning of year
1,064,000
1,064,000
965,392
(98,608)
Fund balance, end of year
$ -
$ - $
631,783
$ 631,763
14
! � i
RT
CLERK OF THE CIRCUIT COU
Agency MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
Year Ended September 30, 2008
Balance
B1 nc
October 1,
September 30,
07
Additions
Deductions
2000
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,779,007
$
26,886,817
$
28,259,048
$ 2,406,776
Due from others
1,712
89,184
41,008
64,888
Total assets$
3,795,719
$
26,976,001
$
28,300,06
$ 2,471,664
Liabilities
Due to others
$
2,685,031
$
4,004,659
$
5,021,507
$ 1,668,183
Due to Board of County Commissioners
114,20
1,338,946
1,354,833
98,93
Due to other governmental agencies
995,868
21,632,396
21,923,716
704,548
Total liabilities
$
3,7 5,719
$
26,976,001
$
28,300,056
$ 2,471,664
15
t '... � � �
To the Honorable Danny L. Kolhage,
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida:
We have audited the financial statements of each major fund of the Monroe County, Florida
Clerk of the Circuit Court (the "Clerk") as of and for the year ended September 30, 2008, which
collectively comprise the Clerk's basic financial statements, and have issued our report thereon
dated January 30, 2009 for the purpose of compliance with Section 218.39(2), Florida Statutes,
and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General -Local Govenamental Entity Audits. We
conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States of America and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government
Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.
Internal Control over Financial i
In planning and performing our audit, we considered the Clerk's internal control over financial
reporting as a basis for designing our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our
opinion on the financial statements, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the Clerk's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we do not
express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Clerk's internal control over financial reporting.
A control deficiency exists when the design or operation of a control does not allow
management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to
prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a control
deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that adversely affects the Clerk's ability to
initiate, authorize, record, process, or report financial data reliably in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a
misstatement of the Clerk's financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be
prevented or detected by the Clerk's internal control.
A material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that
results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the financial statements
will not be presented or detected by the Clerk's internal control.
We
Our consideration of internal control over financial reporting was tor the limited purpo
in internal control that might be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. We did n
identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that we consider Ito
material weaknesses, as defined above.
As part of obtaining assurance about whether the Clerk's financial statements are free o?
material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws,
regulations, and contracts, and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have'a
direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. However,
providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit, and
accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests disclosed no instances
of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing
Standards.
This report is intended solely for the information of the Clerk, management, the Audit
General, and applicable state agencies, and is not intended to be and should not be used
anyone other than these specified parties. I
CHERRY, BEKAERT & HOLLAND, L.L.P.
t-. 0
16A -
Orlando, Florida
January 30, 2009
M
To the Honorable Danny L. Kolhage,
Clerk of the Circuit Court of Monroe County, Florida:
We have audited the financial statements of each major fund of the Monroe County, Florida
Clerk of the Circuit Court (the "Clerk'), as of and for the year ended September 30, 2008, which
collectively comprise the Clerk's basic financial statements, and have issued our report thereon
dated January 30, 2009.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United
States of America; and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government
Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States. We have issued
our Independent Auditors' Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting and on
Compliance and Other Matters Based on an Audit of Financial Statements Performed in
Accordance with Government Auditing Standards. Disclosures in that report, dated January 30,
2009 should be considered in conjunction with this management letter.
Additionally, our audit was conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 10.550,
Rules of the Auditor General, which govern the conduct of local government entity audits
performed in the State of Florida. This letter includes the following information, which is not
included in the aforementioned auditors' report.
Section 10.554(1)(i)1., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we determine whether or not
corrective actions have been taken to address significant findings and recommendations made
in the preceding annual financial report. There were no recommendations made in the
preceding year's annual financial report.
Section 10.554(1)(i)2., Rules of the Auditor General, requires our audit to include a review of the
provisions of Section 218.145, Florida Statutes, regarding the investment of public funds. In
connection with our audit, nothing came to our attention that could cause us to believe that the
Clerk was in noncompliance with Section 218.415, Florida Statutes, regarding the investment of
public funds.
Section 10.554(1)(i)3., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address in the
management letter any recommendations to improve financial management. In connection with
our audit, we did not have any such recommendations.
Section 10.554(1)(i)4., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address violations of
provisions of contracts and grant agreements or abuse that have an effect on the financial
statements that is less than material but more than inconsequential. In connection with our
audit, we did not have any such findings.
im
Section 10.554(l)(i)5., Rules of the Auditor Generai, requires, based on professional judgment,
the reporting of the following matters that are inconsequential to the financial statements,
considering both quantitative and qualitative factors: (1) violations of laws, regulations, contracts
or grant agreements, or abuse that have occurred, or are likely to have occurred, and (2) control
deficiencies that are not significant deficiencies, including, but not limited to; (a) improper or
inadequate accounting procedures (e.g., the omission of required disclosures from the financial
statements); (b) failures to properly record financial transactions; and (c) inaccuracies,
shortages, defalcations, and instances of fraud discovered by, or that come to the attention of
the auditor. In connection with our audit, we did not have any such findings.
Section 10.554(l)(i)G., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that the name or official title and
legal authority for the primary government and each component unit of the reporting entity be
disclosed in this management letter, unless disclosed in the notes to the financial statements.
The Clerk is a separately elected county official established pursuant to the Constitution of the
State of Florida. There are no component units related to the Clerk.
This management letter is intended solely for the information of the Clerk and management, and
the Auditor General and applicable state agencies, and is not intended to be and should not be
used by anyone other than these specified parties.
CHERRY, BEKAERT & HOLLAND, L.L.P.
*rlando, Florida
January 30, 2009
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