2020 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Relevant Financial Policies

The city’s target General Fund balance is to maintain an unassigned level between 35% and 50% of expenditures. This level is to provide working capital for cash flow, expected declines in revenues, and for unforeseen expenditures such as natural disasters, or for unforeseen but urgent requests. Replenishing the fund balance when it falls below the target level shall be accomplished by inter-fund transfers, or adjusting of expenditures or revenues, over a period not to exceed three years. The city historically receives no local government aid (LGA). Annual legislative actions may impact the financial position of those cities that are currently reliant on these and other government derived revenue sources, which leaves them vulnerable to the economies of the State as a whole. As of this writing, it was not anticipated that actions by the Minnesota Legislature would negatively impact the city and its operations and planning. The standard budget process, which provides for the presentation and approval of the property tax levies for the General fund (including Economic Development), debt service and referendum debt, will be consistent with prior year actions. The accounting, auditing and financial reporting policies are designed to maintain a system of financial monitoring, control and reporting for all operations and funds to provide effective means of ensuring that overall city goals and objectives will be met and to assure the city’s residents and investors that the city is well managed and fiscally sound. The investment policy provides for conservative investing, preserving capital and maintaining adequate liquidity for forecasted cash needs. A third-party investment manager handles the longer duration portion of the portfolio and all investments are held in a trust account. The debt policy ensures that the city's debt; 1) does not weaken the city's financial structure; and 2) provides limits on debt to avoid problems in servicing debt. This policy is critical for maintaining the best possible credit rating. Capital policies include having expenditures forecasted ahead for five to ten years and are updated annually. Internal Service Funds for major equipment, major buildings and facilities, park asset replacement and information technology costs stabilize the annual impact of those items to the General fund and taxpayers. The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the City of Shakopee for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. This was the 35 th consecutive year that the city has received this award. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, a government must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized CAFR. This report satisfied both GAAP and applicable legal requirements. A Certificate of Achievement is valid for a period of one year only. We believe our current CAFR continues to meet the Certificate of Achievement Program’s requirements and we are submitting it to the GFOA to determine its eligibility for another certificate. Awards and Acknowledgements

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