Report No. 09023, Former Property Appraiser 9023
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
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•
*** MONROE COUNTY ***
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
For the Period
October 1 , 1975 to September 30 , 1976
9023
STATE OF FLORIDA
OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
Report on Audit
of the Accounts of the
MONROE COUNTY
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
For the Period
October 1 , 1975 to September 30 , 1976
Dated: June 14 , 1977
.W' 4% STATE OF FLORIDA
atitl• '°. OFFICE OF THE AUDITOR GENERAL
ti°°°wslM
Tallahassee, Florida
ERNEST ELLISON,C.P. A. June 14 , 1977
Auortow GFNERAL
The Legislative Auditing Committee
of the Legislature
and the
Governor of Florida
Sirs:
Pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 .45 , Florida
Statutes, I have directed that an audit be made of the accounts and
records of the
HONORABLE JOE ALLEN
MONROE COUNTY
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
For the Period Beginning October 1 , 1975 ,
and Ending September 30 , 1976 ,
the Date of His Resignation,
Par.
No.
and present this report thereon.
SCOPE AND OPINION
(1) I have examined the financial statements of the General
(Operating) Fund of the Monroe County former Property Appraiser for
the fiscal year ended September 30 , 1976 . My examination was made in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards and ,
accordingly, included such tests of the accounting records and such
other auditing procedures as I considered necessary in the
circumstances.
(2) In my opinion, the accompanying financial statements present
fairly the financial position of the General (Operating) Fund of the
Monroe County former Property Appraiser at September 30 , 1976 , and the
results of operations of the General (Operating) Fund for the year
then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis consistent with that of the previous
year .
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Par.
No.
FINANCIAL POSITION
(3) The financial position of the General (Operating) Fund at
September 30 , 1976 , is shown on exhibit A.
(4) Liabilities and fund balance at September 30 , 1976 , and the
transactions in settlement thereof were as follows:
Liabilities and Fund Balance at September 30, 1976
Balance Due Various Taxing Authorities $ 7,168.87
Unexpended Budget Receipts (Fund Balance) 117,070.28
Checks Written Prior to September 30, 1976, and not
Paid by Bank Prior to Transfer of Bank Account :
Florida First National Bank 2,373.99
Key West State Bank 227.08
Total $126,840.22
Resources Transferred
Cash Transferred by Check Dated October 20,
1976, Drawn on The Islamorada Bank $ 7,614.32
Cash in Banks:
Florida First National Bank - Account Transferred
October 1, 1976 17,538. 13
Key West State Bank - Account Transferred
January 19, 1977 28,274.27
Due from Board of County Commissioners 973.74
Transactions from October 1, 1976 to
January 19, 1977, Made by Successor in Account in
Key West State Bank (Prior to Transfer of Account
to Successor) :
Checks Written for Office Operating Expenses and
Which Were Paid by Bank $101,148.79
Less, Office Revenues Deposited in Account 28,709.03 72,439.76
Total $126,840.22
FINANCIAL OPERATIONS
Tax Rolls
(5) An examination of the procedures and methods used by the
former Property Appraiser in the valuation of property and a
determination of the accuracy of his valuations shown on the tax rolls
are not included in the scope of this audit.
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Par.
No.
(6) Corrections to the tax rolls by the former Appraiser , after
delivery of the tax rolls to the Tax Collector , were made in
accordance with Section 12B-1 .139 (Section 12D-12.42 , effective
October 12 , 1976) , Rules of the Department of Revenue.
(7) The valuations on the county tax rolls for the years in the
audit period , as shown on the former Appraiser ' s recapitulations, are
summarized as follows:
Valuations Tax Roll Recaps
1974 1975
Countywide Nonexempt $ 682 ,741 ,498 $ 735 ,968,687
Constitutional Homestead Exempt 40 ,605 ,650 43 ,396 ,100
Homestead Exempt, Section 196 .031 (3) ,
Florida Statutes 8 ,416 ,000 9 ,331 ,100
Other Exempt 298,003,313 314 ,373 ,149
Total Assessed Valuations $1 ,029 ,766 ,461 $1 ,103 ,069 ,036
Budget
(8) Budgets and budget amendments were prepared and submitted to
the Department of Revenue as prescribed by Section 195 .087 , Florida
Statutes.
(9) A comparison of budgeted with actual amounts is shown on
exhibit B.
Revenues and Expenditures
(10) The financial report of revenues and expenditures for the
fiscal year 1975-76 , was filed pursuant to the provisions of Section
218 .36 , Florida Statutes.
Compensation
(11) The former Property Appraiser received compensation of
$24 ,480 as provided by Chapter 145 , Florida Statutes.
Retirement and Social Security
(12) The office of the former Property Appraiser remitted the
full contribution for members of the Florida Retirement System, as
required by Section 121 .071 , Florida Statutes. Social security
contributions were properly deducted from salaries paid to eligible
employees. These contributions, together with the contributions for
the former Appraiser ' s personal account and the required matching
funds, were remitted on a timely basis.
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Par .
No.
RECORDS AND INTERNAL CONTROL
(13) Financial records generally complied with the requirements
of Chapter 219 , Florida Statutes.
(14) The records and procedures provided reasonable internal
control for the former Property Appraiser ' s office.
EXHIBITS
The following exhibits are attached to and form part of this
report:
EXHIBIT - A General (Operating) Fund - Balance Sheet.
EXHIBIT - B General (Operating) Fund - Statement of Revenues and
Expenditures.
EXHIBIT - C General (Operating) Fund - Statement of Changes in Fund
Balance.
EXHIBIT - D Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.
Respectfully submitted,
(Signed) Ernest Ellison, C.P.A.
Auditor General
Audit supervised by:
(Signed) Willard G. Hale
Audit made by:
(Signed) Jose F. Montes-de-Oca
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MONROE COUNTY EXHIBIT - A
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
GENERAL (OPERATING) FUND
BALANCE SHEET
September 30, 1976
ASSETS
Cash in Banks $123,265.41
Due from Board of County Commissioners 973.74
TOTAL $124,239.15
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE
Liabilities:
Balance Due Various Taxing Authorities $ 7,168.87
Fund Balance 117,070.28
TOTAL $124,239.15
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies.
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EXHIBIT - B MONROE COUNTY
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
GENERAL (OPERATING) FUND
STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
For the Year Ended September 30, 1976
Budget Actual Over (Under)
Budget
Revenues:
From Governmental Units:
Board of County Commissioners $460,824.14 $460,824.14 $
School Interest and Sinking Fund 11,263.63 11,263.63
Mosquito Control District 37,042.10 37,042.10
Hospital District 15,389.09 18,936.88 3,547.79
Waste Control District 23,227.07 23,227.07
Flood Control District 269.97 269.97
Total from Governmental Units $548,016.00 $551,563.79 $ 3,547.79
Tax Redemptions 2,825.90 2,825.90
Mobile Home RP Tags 65.00 65.00
Other Income 257.00 257.00
Total Revenues $548,016.00 $554,711.69 $ 6,695.69
Expenditures:
Salaries and Benefits:
Salary of Property Appraiser $ 24,480.00 $ 24,480.00 $
Other Salaries 330,756.00 313,572.48 (17,183.52)
Total Salaries and Benefits $355,236.00 $338,052.48 $ (17,183.52)
Other Personal Services:
Temporary Employment $ 11,680.00 $ 6,563.99 $ (5,116.01)
Professional Fees:
Appraisal Services 3,800.00 3,729.06 (70.94)
Legal Services 10,000.00 2,100.00 (7,900.00)
Contingency Contracted Services 28,700.00 (28,700.00)
Total Other Personal Services $ 54 180.00 $ 12,393.05 $ (41,786.95)
Expenses:
Postage $ 9,000.00 $ 7,151.15 $ (1,848.85)
Telephone 3,600.00 2,753.68 (846.32)
Printing and Reproduction 2,000.00 1,837.56 (162.44)
Repairs and Maintenance 6,500.00 6,310.85 (189.15)
Travel 7,500.00 6,201.41 (1,298.59)
Data Processing 40,000.00 19,064.61 (20,935.39)
Motor Fuels and Lubricants 17,500.00 10,915.85 (6,584.15)
Office Materials and Supplies 7,500.00 3,819.50 (3,680.50)
Insurance and Surety Bonds 3,000.00 (3,000.00)
Rental - Office Equipment 5,000.00 3,843.51 (1,156.49)
Association Dues 800.00 794.40 (5.60)
Education and Training 1,600.00 976.00 (624.00)
Unemployment Compensation 1,700.00 (1,700.00)
. Film and Development 4,000.00 2,996.08 (1,003.92)
Miscellaneous 3,900.00 3,040.29 (859.71)
Total Expenses $113,600.00 $ 69,704.89 $ (43,895.11)
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MONROE COUNTY EXHIBIT - B
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER (Continued)
GENERAL (OPERATING) FUND
STATEMENT OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES
For the Year Ended September 30, 1976
Budget Actual Over (Under)
Budget
Expenditures (Continued):
Operating Capital Outlay:
Motor Vehicles $ 15,000.00 $ 13,128.00 $ (1,872.00)
Office Furniture and Equipment 10,000.00 4,362.99 (5,637.01)
Total Operating Capital Outlay $ 25,000.00 $ 17,490.99 $ (7,509.01)
Total Expenditures $548,016.00 $437,641.41 $(110,374.59)
Excess of Revenues Over Expenditures $ - - $117,070.28 $ 117,070.28
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies.
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EXHIBIT - C MONROE COUNTY
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
GENERAL (OPERATING) FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FUND BALANCE
For the Year Ended September 30, 1976
Fund Balance, October 1, 1975 $100,750.64
Add:
Excess of Revenues Over Expenditures 117,070.28
Total Balance and Additions $217,820.92
Deduct:
Reversion of Excess of Revenues Over Expenditures for Fiscal
Year 1974-75 to Taxing Authorities 100,750.64
Fund Balance, September 30, 1976 $117,070.28
See accompanying summary of significant accounting policies.
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MONROE COUNTY EXHIBIT - D
FORMER PROPERTY APPRAISER
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
September 30, 1976
The significant accounting policies followed by the Monroe
County former Property Appraiser are described below to enhance the
usefulness of the financial statements to the reader:
Basis of Accounting. The former Property Appraiser's
financial records were maintained on the cash basis of
accounting whereby revenues are recognized only when cash
is received and expenditures are recognized when cash is
disbursed. The accompanying financial statements are
presented on the cash basis of accounting.
Former Property Appraiser's Compensation and Excess
Income Distribution. The former Property Appraiser's
office was on a budget system. His salary was guaranteed
as specified in Section 145.10, Florida Statutes, and was
appropriated as part of the budget. The excess income
was distributed to the governmental units in proportion
to that governmental unit's contribution to the former
Property Appraiser's budget.
Tangible Personal Property. Acquisitions of tangible
personal property were recorded as expenditures in the
General (Operating) Fund at time of purchase. Such assets
are reported to and capitalized by the Board of County
Comnissioners and consequently are not shown on the former
Property Appraiser's records.
Retirement Plans. The former Property Appraiser and
employees of his office are members of one of the retire-
ment plans administerd by the State of Florida, Department
of Administration, Division of Retirement. These plans
required contributions by the office of the former Property
Appraiser at a stated percentage of compensation dependent
upon the individual plan.
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