Presentation of June 30, 2015 Auditors Discussion and Analysis - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Presentation of June 30, 2015 Auditor’s Discussion and Analysis

Fulton County Board of Education

Board Meeting

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Agenda

 Engagement Team  Results of the 2015 Audit  Comments, Recommendations, and Other Issues  Questions

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Engagement Team

MAULDIN & JENKINS – GOVERNMENTAL PRACTICE General Information:

Founded in 1920, large regional firm serving the Southeastern United States. Offices located in Macon, Atlanta, Albany, Birmingham, Chattanooga and Bradenton with firm governmental

leadership positioned in the Atlanta (and Macon) offices.

Governmental Sector:

Largest specific industry niche served by Firm representing 25% of Firm practice. Serve 10 of the largest 30 school districts in Georgia and Florida combined. Serve more governmental entities in Georgia than any other certified public accounting firm requiring over 65,000

hours of service on an annual basis.

Serves 77 governments receiving the GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting. Auditor of a substantial part of the State of Georgia including: approximately 25% of the State’s General Fund; 13 of

the State of Georgia’s component units, and 2 State of Alabama entities.

Approximately 90 professional staff persons with current governmental experience. Current auditor for over 300 total governments in the Southeast, including approximately:

√ 75 Cities √ 40 Counties √ 40 School Systems √ 37 State entities √ 90 Special Purpose Entities (stand-alone business type entities, libraries, and etc.)

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Engagement Team

Engagement Team Leaders for the Fulton County Board of Education Include:

Doug Moses, Engagement Partner – 17 years experience, 100% governmental Joel Black, Quality Assurance Review Partner – 23 years experience, 100% governmental Tim Lyons – Engagement Manager – 8 years experience, 100% governmental

Mauldin & Jenkins – Additional Information Other Industries & Services by Mauldin & Jenkins:

Each of Mauldin & Jenkins’ offices provides a wide variety of services to a broad range of clientele. We have partners and managers who are responsible for specialized practice areas of auditing and accounting, taxes and management advisory

• services. Their purpose, as leaders in the particular practice area, is to establish policies with respect to technical matters in

these specific areas and ensure that the quality of the Firm's practice is maintained. Industries Served: Over the years our partners have developed expertise in certain industries representative of a cross section of the Georgia economy, including:

• Governmental Entities (state entities, cities, counties, school systems,
• Sec Registrants

business type operations, libraries, and other special purpose entities)

• Wholesale Distribution
• Agri-Businesses
• Manufacturing
• Professional Services
• Employee Benefit Plans
• Financial Institutions (community banks, savings & loans, thrifts,
• Non-Profit Organizations

credit unions, mortgage companies, and finance companies)

• Retail Businesses
• Long-term Healthcare
• Construction & Development
• Individuals, Estates and Trusts
• Real Estate Management

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Results of June 30, 2015 Audit

 Our Responsibility Under Auditing Standards Generally Accepted in the United States of America

(GAAS)

– We considered the internal control structure for the purpose of expressing our opinion on the School System’s basic financial statements and not providing assurance on the internal control structure. – Our audit was performed in accordance with GAAS. – Our objective is to provide reasonable—not absolute—assurance that the basic financial statements are free of material misstatement. – The basic financial statements are the responsibility of the School System’s management.

 Report on 2015 Basic Financial Statements of the School System

– Unmodified (“clean”) opinion on the basic financial statements is anticipated. Our opinion did not cover the following charter schools which are reported as discretely presented component units in the School System’s CAFR: Amana Academy, Inc; Georgia Magnet Charter Schools Foundation, Inc.; Chattahoochee Hills; and Main Street Academy, Inc. Also note that Fulton Educational Services Teach Academy and Fulton Sunshine Academy’s financial statements were not provided in time for preparation of the System’s CAFR and management determined them to be immaterial to hold up the issuance of the CAFR. A restatement of beginning net position for discretely presented component units was made for the removal of these two component units. Audit report date is anticipated to be February xx, 2016. – Presented fairly in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. – Our responsibility does not extend beyond financial information contained in our report.

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Results of June 30, 2015 Audit

 Report on 2015 Basic Financial Statements of the Fulton County Schools Employees Pension Plan

– Unmodified (“clean”) opinion on the basic financial statements is anticipated for the Pension Plan. Audit report date is anticipated to be February xx, 2016. – Presented fairly in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. – Our responsibility does not extend beyond financial information contained in our report.

 Report on 2015 Federal Award Programs

• Unmodified opinion or clean opinion on major federal award program (Title I, Part A Cluster), (Title II, Part A Cluster), and Striving

Readers Program audited in accordance with A-133 Compliance Requirements is anticipated. At June 30, 2015, the School System had a total of approximately $68.9 million in federal awards. We audited approximately $23.3 million or 34% of the total federal awards.

 SPLOST Performance Audit

• Performance audit performed on SPLOST III and SPLOST IV Programs.
• Tested a total of 120 SPLOST Expenditures (60 from each Program - all were expended on allowable costs in accordance with

SPLOST Referendums.

• Reviewed 93 SPLOST Contracts for proper board approval, procurement servicers approval, and for evidence of multiple bids
• btained prior to award.

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Results of June 30, 2015 Audit (Continued)



Significant Accounting Policies

– The significant accounting policies used by the School System are described in Note 1 to the basic financial statements. – The policies used by the School System are in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and similar government

• rganizations, with significant new policies implemented in the current fiscal year in relation to GASB 68 and GASB 71 pertaining to the

accounting and reporting of Pension Plans. – In considering the qualitative aspects of its policies, the School System is not involved in any controversial or emerging issues for which guidance is not available. 

Management Judgment/Accounting Estimates

– The School System uses various estimates as part of its financial reporting process – including valuation of accounts receivable , Net pension liability , and depreciation expense for its capital assets. – Management’s estimates used in preparation of financial statements were deemed reasonable in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. We considered this information and the qualitative aspects of management’s calculations in evaluating the School System’s significant accounting estimates. 

Financial Statement Disclosures

– The footnote disclosures to the financial statements are also an integral part of the financial statements and the process used by management to accumulate the information included in the disclosures was the same process used in accumulating the statements. The

• verall neutrality, consistency, and clarity of the disclosures was considered as part our audit.

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Results of June 30, 2015 Audit (Continued)

 Relationship with Management

– We received full cooperation from the School System’s management, staff, and others. – There were no disagreements with management on accounting issues or financial reporting matters.

 Audit Adjustments

– Adjustments were proposed to the records of the School System and have been recorded in the School System’s financial

• statements. The School System’s accounting director has copies of these audit entries and will have available with this presentation.

There were no passed adjustments.

 Representation from Management

– We requested written representations from management relating to the accuracy of information included in the financial statements and the completeness and accuracy of various information requested by us, during the audit. Management provided those written representations without a problem.

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Results of June 30, 2015 Audit (Continued)

 Consultation with Other Accountants

– To the best of our knowledge, management has not consulted with, or obtained opinions from, other independent accountants during the year, nor did we face any issues requiring outside consultation.

 Significant Issues Discussed with Management

– There were no significant issues discussed with management related to business conditions, plans, or strategies that may have affected the risk of material misstatement of the financial statements.

 Information in Documents Containing Audited Financial Statements

– Our responsibility for other information in documents containing the School System’s basic financial statements and our report thereon does not extend beyond the information identified in our report. If the School System intends to publish or otherwise reproduce the financial statements and make reference to our firm, we must be provided with printers’ proof for our review and approval before printing. The School System must also provide us with a copy of the final reproduced material for our approval before it is distributed.

 Auditor Independence

– In accordance with AICPA professional standards, M&J is independent with regard to the School System and its financial reporting process. – There were no fees paid to M&J for management advisory services during fiscal year 2015 that might effect our independence as auditors.

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Financial Trends – Governmental Activities- 2014 Pre-GASB 68

• 500,000,000

1,000,000,000 1,500,000,000 2,000,000,000 2,500,000,000 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 Net Position Change in Net Position

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Financial Trends – Governmental Activities- 2014 Restated – GASB 68

• 200,000,000

400,000,000 600,000,000 800,000,000 1,000,000,000 1,200,000,000 1,400,000,000 1,600,000,000 1,800,000,000 2,000,000,000 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 Net Position Change in Net Position

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Fund Balance as a Percentage of Total Expenditures

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 General Fund All Governmental Funds

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Financial Trends – Fund Balances (50,000,000)

• 50,000,000

100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 General Fund Other Gov't Funds

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Financial Trends – Change in Pension Trust Fund Net Position – (50,000,000)

• 50,000,000

100,000,000 150,000,000 200,000,000 250,000,000 300,000,000 350,000,000 400,000,000 Net Position Change in Net Position

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Financial Trends –Employer Contributions vs Net Investment

• Pension Trust Fund

(30,000,000) (20,000,000) (10,000,000)

• 10,000,000

20,000,000 30,000,000 40,000,000 50,000,000 60,000,000 70,000,000 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 Employer Contributions Net Investment Income (Loss)

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Financial Trends–Employer Contributions vs Benefit Payments

• Pension Trust Fund
• 5,000,000

10,000,000 15,000,000 20,000,000 25,000,000 30,000,000 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 Employer Contributions Benefit Payments

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

Management Point Recommendation

Noncompliance in relation to the Georgia 15% rule for School Districts (General Fund fund balance for committed, assigned, and unassigned less capital outlay commitments and subsequent years’

• perating budget should not exceed 15% of the subsequent year’s General Fund budgeted

expenditures) - $102.2 million compared to $106.7 million in the prior year.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 New GASB Pronouncement (Continued)

Statement No. 68, Accounting and Reporting for Pensions implemented in the School District’s fiscal

year ended June 30, 2015. This pronouncement replaced the requirements of Statement No. 27, Accounting for Pensions by State and Local Governmental Employers and Statement No. 50, Pension Disclosures, as they relate to governments that provide pensions through pension plans administered as trusts or similar arrangements that meet certain criteria, including agent and cost-sharing multiple employer plans. Statement No. 68 requires governments providing defined benefit pensions to recognize their long-term obligation for pension benefits as a liability for the first time, and to more comprehensively and comparably measure the annual costs of pension benefits. The Statement also enhances accountability and transparency through revised and new note disclosures and required supplementary information (RSI). As of June 30, 2015, the District’s proportionate share of the TRS Net Pension Liability was $596,477,266 (a decrease

• f $219,536,137 from the restated beginning balance of $816,013,403).

As of June 30, 2015, the District’s Local Employees Pension Plan Net Pension Liability was $110,386,151 (a decrease

• f $337,952 from the restated beginning balance of $110,724,103).

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 New GASB Pronouncement (Continued)

Statement No. 69, Government Combinations and Disposals of Government Operations was

implemented in the School District’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2015. This pronouncement primarily applies to governments involved in some form of mergers, acquisitions, transfers of operations or disposal of operations. This pronouncement did not have any impact on the District’s fiscal year ended June 30, 2015 operations. Unless the School District enters into any agreements whereby such actions are anticipated, this pronouncement should not affect the School District in future years.

Statement No. 70, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Non-exchange Financial Guarantees

was implemented in fiscal year 2014. School District officials should review the provisions of this new pronouncement and determine if the School District is a party to any form of non-exchange guarantees. If the School District has ever entered into any currently active guarantee agreements, the School District may be required to record certain accounting entries and, or disclose relevant details surrounding the guarantees.

Statement No. 71, Pension Transition for Contributions Made Subsequent to the Measurement Date – an amendment to GASB Statement No. 68 was implemented in fiscal year 2015 along with GASB 68

which clarified some guidance on accounting for contributions after the measurement date. This standard was required to implemented as the same time as GASB Statement No. 68.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 New GASB Pronouncement (Continued) Statement No. 72, Fair Value Measurement and Application was issued in February of 2015, and is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after June 15, 2015 resulting in the District’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. This statement addresses accounting and financial reporting issues related to fair value measurements. The definition of fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. This statement provides guidance for determining a fair value measurement for financial reporting purposes, and also provides guidance for applying fair value to certain investments and disclosures related to all fair value measurements. Statement No. 73, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Pensions and Related Assets That Are Not Within the Scope of GASB Statement No. 68 was issued in June of 2015, and is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after June 15, 2015 resulting in the District’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. The objective of this statement is to improve the usefulness of information about pensions included in the general purpose external financial reports of state and local governments for making decisions and assessing accountability. This statement results from a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of existing standards of accounting and financial reporting for all postemployment benefits with regard to providing decision-useful information, supporting assessments of accountability and inter-period equity, and creating additional transparency. The requirements of this statement will improve financial reporting by establishing a single framework for the presentation of information about pensions, which will enhance the comparability of pension-related information reported by employers and non-employer contributing entities.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 New GASB Pronouncement (Continued)

Statement No. 74, Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans was issued in June of 2015, and is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after June 15, 2015

resulting in the District’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2016. This statement could easily be described as the GASB No. 67 for postemployment benefit plans due to the fact that it will closely follow the provisions of GASB No. 67 for pension plans. The objective of this statement is to improve the usefulness of information about postemployment benefits other than pensions (other postemployment benefits or OPEB) included in the general purpose external financial reports of state and local governmental OPEB plans for making decisions and assessing accountability. This statement results from a comprehensive review of the effectiveness of existing standards of accounting and financial reporting for all postemployment benefits (pensions and OPEB) with regard to providing decision-useful information, supporting assessments of accountability and inter-period equity, and creating additional transparency. This statement replaces Statements No. 43, Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans, as amended, and No. 57, OPEB Measurements by Agent Employers and Agent Multiple-Employer

• Plans. It also includes requirements for defined contribution OPEB plans that replace the requirements for those OPEB

plans in Statement No. 25, Financial Reporting for Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Note Disclosures for Defined Contribution Plans, as amended, Statement No. 43, and Statement No. 50, Pension Disclosures.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 New GASB Pronouncement (Continued) Statement No. 75, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Postemployment Benefit Plans Other Than Pension Plans was issued in June of 2015 and is effective for financial statements for periods beginning after June 15, 2017 resulting in the District’s fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. This standard establishes new accounting and financial reporting requirements for governments whose employees are provided with OPEB, as well as for certain non- employer governments that have a legal obligation to provide financial support for OPEB provided to the employees of

• ther entities.

The scope of this statement includes OPEB plans (defined benefit and defined contribution) administered through trusts that meet the following criteria: 1). Contributions from employers and non-employer contributing entities to the OPEB plan and earnings on those contributions are irrevocable; 2). OPEB plan assets are dedicated to providing OPEB to plan members in accordance with the benefit terms; and 3). OPEB plan assets are legally protected from the creditors of employers, non-employer contributing entities, and the OPEB plan administrator. If the plan is a defined benefit OPEB plan, plan assets also are legally protected from creditors of the plan members. The requirements of this statement will improve financial reporting primarily through enhanced note disclosures and schedules of required supplementary information that will be presented by OPEB plans that are administered through trusts that meet the specified criteria. The new information will enhance the decision-usefulness of the financial reports

• f those OPEB plans, their value for assessing accountability, and their transparency by providing information about

measures of net OPEB liabilities and explanations of how and why those liabilities changed from year to year.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 New GASB Pronouncement (Continued)

Statement No. 76, The Hierarchy of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for State and Local Governments (Continued) The objective of this statement is to identify (in the context of the current

governmental financial reporting environment) the hierarchy of generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). The “GAAP hierarchy” consists of the sources of accounting principles used to prepare financial statements of state and local governmental entities in conformity with GAAP and the framework for selecting those principles. This statement reduces the GAAP hierarchy to two (2) categories of authoritative GAAP and addresses the use of authoritative and non- authoritative literature in the event that the accounting treatment for a transaction or other event is not specified within a source of authoritative GAAP. The requirements in this statement improve financial reporting by: (1) raising the category of GASB Implementation Guides in the GAAP hierarchy, thus providing the opportunity for broader public input on implementation guidance; (2) emphasizing the importance of analogies to authoritative literature when the accounting treatment for an event is not specified in authoritative GAAP; and (3) requiring the consideration of consistency with the GASB Concepts Statements when evaluating accounting treatments specified in non-authoritative literature. As a result, governments will apply financial reporting guidance with less variation, which will improve the usefulness of financial statement information for making decisions and assessing accountability and enhance the comparability of financial statement information among governments.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 Other Pending or Current GASB Projects - As noted by the numerous pronouncements issued by GASB over the past decade, the GASB continues to research various projects of interest to governmental units. Subjects of note include: Fiduciary responsibilities and new definitions for fiduciary funds and use of whether a government has “control” and who benefits to determine accounting as fiduciary. Final standard expected in October 2015. Capital leases or operating leases continues to be a hot topic. Looking into whether all leases should be treated the same way. Final standard expected in November 2015. Asset retirement obligations in which the GASB is considering standards for reporting liabilities related to obligations to perform procedures to close certain capital assets, such as nuclear power plants. This concept would not change existing standards such as GASB 18 (landfills) or GASB 49 (pollution remediation). Final standard expected in December 2015. External investment pools. Current standards allow pools that are considered to be 2a7-like to report investments at amortized cost rather than fair value; however, the SEC recently made significant changes to Rule 2a7 making it hard to be 2a7 like. An exposure draft created criteria (which are based on old 2a7 criteria) for an external investment pools to continue to be accounted for using amortized cost. Final standard expected in December 2015.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 Other Pending or Current GASB Projects (Continued) Irrevocable split-interest agreements which are prevalent at colleges and universities whereby split-interest agreements in which an asset is given to government in trust. During stated term of the trust the income generated by the trust goes to the donor and when the trust ends then the assets become the governments. Final standard expected in January 2016. Blending requirements for certain business-type activities. GASB is considering revising the standards regarding how certain component units of business-type activities should be presented. There is diversity in practice, with some component units blended for reasons not included in Statement 14 (such as sole member of an LLC). Final standard expected in March 2016. Tax abatement issues resulting from an agreement between government and a taxpayer in which: (1) a government promises to forgo revenues from taxes for which the taxpayer otherwise would have been obligated; and (2) the taxpayer promises to take a specific action that contributes to economic development or otherwise benefits the government or its citizens. Final standard was issued in August 2015 and effective for December 31, 2016. Conceptual Framework is a constant matter being looked at by GASB. Current measurement focus statements (for governmental funds) to change to near-term financial resources measurement. May dictate a period (such as 60 days) for revenue and expenditure recognition. May expense thing such as supplies and prepaid assets at acquisition. Will look into which balances (at all statement levels) are measured at acquisition and which need to be re-measured at year-end. Project placed on hold for now.

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues

 Other Pending or Current GASB Projects (Continued) Economic Condition Reporting is another long-term matter being looked into by GASB. Includes presentation of information on fiscal sustainability (including projections). Tabled for now pending resolution to issues raised on GASBs scope. Single Audit Standards There continues to be changes to auditing standards relative to the conduct and reporting of Single Audits. This year’s financial and compliance audit recognized the implementation of the new Uniform Grant Guidance (UG) which included significant changes to cost principles and other requirements for auditees receiving Federal funds. These changes are driven based on the grant award date as awarded by the Federal agency. As such, auditors and auditees will follow requirements from both the “old” and “new” guidance for a few years to come. Beginning with fiscal years ending June 30, 2016, additional changes to audit requirements will be effective. These include changes to the: Threshold requiring a Single Audit (from $500,000 to $750,000); Major program thresholds; and Percentage coverage thresholds (for low risk from 25% to 20% and for high risk from 50% to 40%).

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues (Cont’d)

FREE QUARTERLY CONTINUING EDUCATION AND NEWSLETTERS FOR GOVERNMENTAL CLIENTS Free Continuing Education. We provide free quarterly continuing education for all of our governmental clients. Each quarter we pick a couple of significant topics tailored to be of interest to governmental entities. In an effort to accommodate our entire governmental client base, we offer the sessions several times per quarter at a variety of client provided locations resulting in greater networking among our governmental clients. We normally see approximately 100 people per quarter. We obtain the input and services of experienced outside speakers along with providing the instruction utilizing our in-house professionals. We hope School District staff and officials have been able to participate in this opportunity, and that it has been beneficial to you. Examples of subjects addressed in the past few quarters include:

• CAFR Preparation - GASB Updates - Grant Accounting Processes and Controls - GASB 68 & 71 (Pensions)
• Internal controls over revenue and cash receipting and accounts payable, payroll, and cash disbursements
• American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) information, issues and updates - Single audits for auditees
• Collateralization of Deposits and Investments - Internal Controls over Accounts Payable, Payroll and Controls
• Policies and Procedures Manuals - Segregation of Duties - GASB No. 51 - Intangible Assets - Segregation of Duties
• GASB No. 54 - Governmental Fund Balance - Best Budgeting Practices, Policies and Procedures

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Comments, Recommendations, & Other Issues (Cont’d)

FREE QUARTERLY CONTINUING EDUCATION AND NEWSLETTERS FOR GOVERNMENTAL CLIENTS (Continued) Governmental Newsletters. Beginning in August 2009, we began producing newsletters tailored to meet the needs of governments. The newsletters have addressed a variety of subjects, and are authored by Mauldin & Jenkins personnel. The newsletters are produced and delivered periodically, and are intended to keep you informed of current developments in the government finance environment.

• Communication. In an effort to better communicate our free continuing education plans and newsletters,

please email Lauren Payne at pvercoe@mjcpa.com (send corresponding copy to dmoses@mjcpa.com), and provide to her individual names, mailing addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of anyone you wish to participate and be included in our database of client representatives and interested parties. We hope our additional services have been beneficial and a valuable use of your time.

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Questions & Comments