C.A.F.R., FY 2011-12 - Laserfiche WebLink

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• The ratio of net assets to expenses was 241.85% for the year 2011-12 and 236.07% for the year 2010-11. The decrease in non-current debt was the major factor in this improvement. Unrestricted net assets changed to $21,197,755 in 2011-12 from $24,217,521 in 2010-11, a decrease of 12.46% reflecting the increase in restrictions for construction projects. • The ratio of City-wide net assets restricted for debt service to total expenditures was 7.63% for the year 2011-12 and 9.47% for the year 2010-11. Debt restricted net assets were lower in 2011-12 and total expenses were up for the same period. • Net long-term debt to assets, a measure of solvency, was 18.13% in 2011-12 and 22.02% in 2010-11. Decreasing debt was the primary cause of this change. Overview of the Financial Statements This discussion and analysis is intended to serve as an introduction to the City's basic financial statements. The City's basic financial statements comprise three components: 1) government-wide fmancial statements, 2) fund financial statements, and 3) notes to the financial statements. This report also contains other supplementary information in addition to the basic financial statements themselves. Government-wide Financial Statements The government-wide financial statements are designed to provide readers with a broad overview of the City's finances, in a manner similar to a private-sector business. The statement of net assets presents information on all of the City's assets and liabilities, with the difference between the two reported as net assets. Over time, increases or decreases in net assets may serve as a useful indicatar of whether the financial position of the City of Paris is improving or deteriorating. The statement of activities presents information showing how the government's net assets changed during the most recent fiscal year. All changes in net assets are reported as soon as the underlying event giving rise to the change occurs, regardless of the timing of related cash flows. Thus, revenues and expenses are reported in this statement for some items that will only result in cash flows in future fiscal periods (e.g., uncollected taxes and earned but unused vacation leave). Both of the government-wide financial statements distinguish functions of the City of Paris that are principally supported by taxes and intergovernmental revenues (governmental activities) from other functions that are intended to recover all or a significant portion of their costs through user fees and charges (business- type activities). The governmental activities of the City of Paris include general government, public safety, public works, library, and airport. The business-type activities of the City of Paris include water production and distribution as well as wastewater collection and treatment. The government-wide financial statements include not only the City of Paris itself (known as the primary government), but also a legally separate Economic Development Corporation (known as the component unit) over which the City of Paris is able to exercise significant control. Financial information for this component unit is reported separately from the financial information presented for the primary government itself. Fund Financial Statements A fund is a grouping of related accounts that is used to maintain control over resources that have been segregated for specific activities or objectives. The City of Paris, like other state and local governments, uses fund accounting to ensure and demonstrate compliance with finance-related legal requirements. All of the funds of the City of Paris can be divided into two categories: governmental funds and proprietary funds. Governmental Funds Governmental funds are used to account for essentially the same functions reported as governmental activities in the government-wide financial statements. However, unlike the government-wide financial statements, governmental fund fmancial statements focus on near-term inflows and outflows of spendable resources, as well as on balances of spendable resources available at the end of the fiscal year. Such information may be useful in evaluating a government's near-term financing requirements.