Fiscal Year 2009 MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Financial Statements
For the Year Faded
September 30, 2009
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Table of Contents
Page
Independent Auditors' Deport,_............... ......--..............--.......-............... 2-3
BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Balance Sheet—General Fund
........... .......... .....................—...... 4
Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in,
Fund Balances, - General Fund
...........--............................................ .......---....... 5
Notes to Financial Statements...----... ........... ....... ....... ........ 6 - 10
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION'
Schedule of Revenues and Expenditures - Budget and Actual -
General Fund 11
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........ .................... ................ 12 - 13
Independent Auditors' Management Letter,....... ............ 14 - 15
w I w
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Honorable Ervin A. Biggs„
Property Appraiser of Monroe County„ Florida:
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of the major Barad of the Monroe
County, Florida Property Appraiser (the "Property Appraiser"), as of and for the year ended
September 30, 2009, which comprise the .Property Appraiser's basic financial statements as
listed in the table of contents. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Property
Appraiser's management, Our responsibility is to express an opinion 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 opinion.
As discussed in Note 1 the accompanying financial statements were prepared for the purpose
of complying with Section 21 . 9(2), Florida Statutes, and Chapter 10,550„ Rules of the,auditor
General-Locai 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 financial position of the major fund of the Property Appraiser as of September 30, 2009, and
the changes in its 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
November 29„ 2009 on our consideration of the Property Appraisers 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.
2
The budgetary comparison schedule on page 11 is not a required part of the basic financial
statements but is supplementary information required by the Governmental Accounting
Standards 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 it,
CHERRY, BEKAERT& HOLLAND, L.L.P.
Orlando, Florida
November 29, 2009
3
EBIASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY"APPRAISER
Balance Sheet
General Fund
September 30, 20
Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $ 4 2,7" t
Receivable 7
Total assets 42, 1
Liabilities and Fund Balance
Liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 32,920
Accrued wages and benefits payable 77,930
Clue to Board of County Commissioners 283,275
Blue to other governmental units 68,693
Total liabilities 462,8118
Fund balance
Total liabilities and fund balance $ 462,818
The motes to the financial statements are an
integral part of this statement. 4
MONROE, COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Statement of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances
General Fund
Year Ended September 30, 2009
Revenues:
Charges for services
Other taxing districts $ 746,162
Investment income 1,963
Miscellaneous 2,112
Total revenues 750,237
Expenditures:
Current:
Personnel services 2,765,0113
Operating expenditures 646,803
Capital outlay 63,466
Total expenditures 3,475,282
Other financing sources (uses);
Transfers from Board of County Commissioners 3,077,013
Transfers to Board of County Commissioners, (283,275)
Transfers to other governmental units JO ,500
Total other financing sources (uses) 2,725,045
Excess of revenues over expenditures -
Fund balance, beginning of year
Fund balance,end of year
The notes to the financial statements are an
integral part of this statement. 5
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended September 30, 2009
Note I —Summary of significant accounting policies
Reporting Entity— The Monroe County, Florida Property Appraiser (the "Property Appraiser")
is a separately efected county official established pursuant to the Constitution of the State of
Florida. The Property Appraiser'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 Statements No. 14 and No. 39 of
the Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB). Although the Property, Appraiser"s
Office is operationally autonomous, it does not hold sufficient corporate powers of its own to be
considered a legally separate entity for financial reporting purposes. Therefore, the Property
Appraiser is reported as a part of the primary government of the County,
Measurement focus, basis of accounting, and financial statement presentation - The
Property Appraiser's financial statements are prepared in accordance with Chapter 10.550,
Rules of the Auditor General, which requires the Property Appraiser to only present fund
financial statements.
The General Fund is used to account for all revenues and expenditures applicable to the
general operations of the Property Appraiser. This fund is presented as a major governmental
fund and uses the current financial resources measurement focus and the modified accrual
basis of accounting. Revenues are recognized when measurable and available. Revenues are,
considered to be available when they are collectible within: the current period or soon enough
thereafter to pay liabilities, of the current period. For this purpose, the Property Appraiser
considers revenues to be available if they are collected within 60 days of the end of the current
fiscal period. Expenditures generally are recorded when a liability is incurred, as under accrual
accounting, However, expenditures related to compensated absences and claims and
judgments are recorded only when payment is due,
The extent to which General Fund revenues exceed expenditures is reflected as transfers out
and as liabilities to the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (the "Board") and other
governmental agencies in the same proportion as fees paid by each governmental unit to total
fees earned by the Property Appraiser,
Budgetary Requirements — Expenditures are controlled by budget appropriations in
accordance with the requirements set forth in the Florida Statutes, The budget is prepared on a
basis consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Cash and Cash Equivalents and Investments — Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash
on hand and demand deposits.
Capital Assets — Tangible personal property used in the Property Appraiser's operations are
recorded as expenditures in the General Fund at the time assets are received and a liability is
incurred. Purchased assets are capitalized at historical cost in the government-wide financial
statements, of the County. In addition, the Board provides office space used by the Property
Appraiser at no charge,
6
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended September 30, 2009
Note I —Summary of significant accounting policies (continued)
Compensated Absences — The Property Appraiser permits employees to accumulate earned
but unused , vacation and sick pay benefits, Related long-term obligations amounting to
$158,363 at September 30, 2009, are included in the giovernmient-wide financial statements of
the County.
Use of Estimates -The preparation of financial statements requires management to make use
of estimates that affect reported amounts, Actual results could differ from estimates.
Note 2— Deposits and Investments
As of September 30, 2000,, the Property Appraiser has demand deposits with a carrying amount
of$462,781 and a bank balance of $514,808.
Demand and time deposits are fully insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or
are covered by the State of Florida collateral pool, a multiple institution pool with the ability to
assess its members,for collateral if a member institution fails,
Florida Statutes and the Property Appraisers investment policy authorize investments in
certificates of deposit, savings accounts, repurchase agreements, 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.
Note 3— Retirement system
Plan Description — The Property Appraiser's employees participate in the Florida Retirement
System ("FIRS"), administered by the Florida Department of Administration. Employees elect to
participate in either the defined benefit plan ("Pension 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 FIRS 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 FIRS provides retirement and disability benefits, annual cost-of-iiving 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 by an act of the Florida! Legislature.
Benefits are computed on the basis of age, average final compensation, and service credit.
Regular class employees who retire at or after age 62 with 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 1.6% of their final average compensation for each year of credited service. Vested
employees with less than 30 years of service may retire before age 62 and receive reduced
retirement benefits. Special risk class employees (sworn law enforcement officers, firefighters,
and correctional officers) who retire at or after age 55 with 6 years of credited service, or with 25
years 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
7
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended September 30, 20019
Note 3—Retirement system (continued)
Management Service class employees who retire at or after age 62 with at least 6 years of
credited service or 30 years of service regardless of agile are entitled to a retirement benefit
payable monthly for life, 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 also 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 while continuing employment withi a FRS employer for a period not to exceed 60
months after electing to participate. Deferred monthly benefits are held in the FRS Trust Fund
and accrue interest.
For employees electing to participate in the Investment Plan rather than the Pension Plan,
vesting occurs at one year of service. These participants receive a contribution of self-direction
in an investment product with a third party administrator selected by the State Board of
Administration,
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 www.frs,state,fl,us,
Funding Policy — The FIRS 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, 2009 were as follows, regular, 9.85%; special
risk, 20.92%; special risk administrative support, 12.55%; county elected officers, 16.53%;
senior management, 11 3,12%; and DROP participants, 10-91%, During the fiscal year ended
September 30, 20019, the Property Appraiser contributed to the Plan an amount equal to 101.19%
of covered payroll, Property Appraiser contributions to the FRS for the fiscal years ended
September 30, 2007 through 2009 were $238,,712, $238,915 and $239,561, respectively, which
were equal to the required contributions for each fiscal year, The Property Appraiser has
historically contributed amounts equall to required contributions and, therefore, does not have a
pension asset or liability as determined in accordance with GAS B; Statement No. 27.
8
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Notes to Financial Statements
Year Ended September 30, 2009
Note 4—Other Posternployment Benefits (OPEIB)
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 meeting 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 conditions apply to employees hired before October 1, 2001 who
have retired before the normal retirement date, have not reached age 60, and whose age and
years of service to the County do 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 Property Appraiser 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,
Note 5—Risk management
The Property Appraiser 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 Property Appraiser participates in the coverage provided by the Board for Workers'
Compensation, Group Insurance, and Risk Management internal service funds. Under these
programs, Workers' Compensation provides $1,000,000 coverage per claim for regular
employees, 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 cost of the buildings with a deductible between $100,000 and $250,000, Deductibles for
windstorm and flood vary by location. Monroe 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 Property
Appraiser makes payments to the Workers' Compensation, Group Insurance and Risk
Management Funds based on estimates of the amounts needed to pay prior and current year
claims.
9
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
Notes to Financial Statements,
Year Ended September 30, 2009
Note 6 -Comm itments
Operating Leases — The Property Appraiser has entered into noncancelable lease
commitments for office equipment, Total lease expenditures amounted to $20,606 during the
year ended September 30, 2009. The following is a schedule by years of minimum future
obligations under the leases:
2010 $ 17,3117
2011 17,317
2012 12,002
Total $ 46,636
Note,7—Litigation
The Property Appraiser is a party from time to time in various lawsuits and other claims
incidental to the ordinary course of its, operation, some of which are covered by the Board's self-
insurance program. White the results of litigation cannot be predicted with certainty,
management believes the final outcome of such litigation will not have a material adverse effect
on the Property Appraiser's financial position.
10
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
MONROE COUNTY,FLORIDA
PROPERTY APPRAISER
ScheduIe of Revenues,and Expenditures
Budget and Actual-GeneraI Fund
Year Ended September 30,2009
General Fund
Variance with
Final Budget
Original Final Positive
Revenues: Pudget Budget . .....Actual (Negative)
Other taxing districts $ 746,162 746,162 $ 746,162 $
Investment income
MisceHaneous 1,963 11,963
2 112 _�21 12
Total revenues - 746,162 116,112 75,0,237 4,075
Expenditures:
Current:
Personnel services 2,937,449 2,896,108 2,765,013
Operating expenditures 751,067 751,067 646,803 131:,095
Capital outlay 135,000 176,000 6 104,264
112_,534
Total expenditures 823,175 3,475,282 7,893
Other financing sources(uses):
Trains,fers from Board of County Commissioners 3,077,354 3,077,013 3,077,013
Transfers to Board Of County COMMissioners - (283,275) (283,275)
Transfers to other governmental units
68.6_3
Total other financing sources(uses) ----L,0-77,354 ------M77,013 351
Excess of revenues over expenditures,
Fund balance,beginning of year
Fund balance,and of year $
$ $
11
SPPLEMETAR" ' EPEENT
AUDITORS' REPORTS
w' w
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 AUDITP G STANDARDS
To the Honorable 'Ervin A. Higgs,
Property Appraiser of Monroe County, Florida:
We have audited the financial statements of the major fund of the Monroe County, Ftoridal
Property Appraiser(the "Property Appraiser") as of and for the year ended September 30„ 209,
which comprise the Property Appraiser's basic financial statements„ and have issued our report
thereon dated November 29, 2009 for the purpose of compliance with Section 21i . g(2), Florida
Statutes„ and Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General-Local Governmental 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 Reporting
Nn planning and performing our audit, we considered the Property Appraiser'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 Property Appraiser's internal control over financial reporting.
Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Property Appraiser„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 Property Appraiser'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 Property Appraiser's financial statements that is more than inconsequential
will not be prevented or detected by the Property Appraiser'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 prevented or detected by the Property Appraiser's internal control.
1
Our consideration of internal control over financial reporting was for the limited purpose
described in the first paragraph of this section and would not necessarily identify all deficiencies
in internal control that might be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses, We did not
identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that we consider to be
material weaknesses, as defined above.
Compliance and Other Matters
As part of obtaining assurance about whether the Property Appraiser's financial statements are
free of material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions of
laws, regulations, 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 Property Appraiser, management, 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.
Orlando, Florida
November 29, 2009
13
M
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' MANAGEMENT LETTER
To the honorable Ervin A. Higgs,
Property Appraiser of Monroe County, Florida:
We have audited the financial statements of the major fund of the Monroe County, Florida
Property Appraiser (the "Property Appraiser"), as of and for the year ended September 30,
2009, which collectively comprise the Property Appraiser's basic financial statements, and have
issued our report thereon dated November 29, 2009.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standard's 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 Mates. e 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 November
29, 2009, should be considered in conjunction with this management letter,
Additionally, our audit was conducted in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 10,550,
Mules of the Auditor General-local Governmental Entity Audits, which govern the conduct of
local governmental entity audits performed in the State of Florida. This letter includes the
following information, which is not included in the aforementioned auditors" report.
The Rules of Auditor General (Section 10.554(1)(i)1) require that we determine whether or not
corrective actions have been taken to address findings and recommendations made in the
preceding, annual financial audit report. No recommendations were made in the preceding
ainnual financial audit report.
The Mules of the Auditor General (Section 10,554(1)(i)2) require our audit to include a review of
the provisions of Section 218.415, Florida Statutes, regarding the investment of public funds. In
connection with our audit of the financial statements of the Property Appraiser, nothing came to
our attention that would cause us to believe that the Property Appraiser was in noncompliance
with Section 2.18,415 regarding the investment of public funds.
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 18.554(1)(i)8) require that we address in the
management Fetter any recommendations to improve financial management. In connection with
our audit, we did not have any such recommendations.
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10,554(1)(i)4) require that we address violations of
provisions of contracts or 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.
14
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10-554(1)(i)5) provide that the auditor may, based on
professional judgment, report the following matters that have an inconsequential effect on
financial statements, considering both quantitative and qualitative factors: (1) violations of
provisions of contracts or grant agreements, fraud, illegal acts, or abuse, and (2) control
deficiencies that are not significant deficiencies. In connection with our audit, we did not have
any such findings.
The Rules of the Auditor General (Section 10.554(1)(()6) require that the name or official title
and legal authority for the primary government and each component unit of the reporting entity
be disclosed in the management letter, unless disclosed in the notes to the financial statements,
The Property Appraiser is a separately elected county official established pursuant to the
Constitution of the State of Florida, There are no component units related to the Property
Appraiser.
Pursuant to Chapter 119, Florida Statutes,, this management letter is a public record and its,
distribution is not limited. Auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America
require us to indicate that this letter is intended' solely for the information and use of
management and the Florida Auditor General, and is not intended to be and should not be used
by anyone other than these specified parties.
CHERRY, BEKAERT& HOLLAND, L.L.P.
IN
kA
Orlando, Florida
November 29, 2009
15