Citizens Financial Report

Transcription

1 Brown County Citizens Financial Report 2003 & 2004 ISSUED BY DOUG GREEN, BROWN COUNTY AUDITOR

2 Brown County Population Brown County has experienced substantial growth in the last decade. 44,239 42, ,920 34, ,635 25, ,000 20,000 30,000 40,000 50,000 Table of Contents Letter to the Citizens of Brown County...1 The Brown County Auditor s Office...2 Activity Statement...4 Where the Money Comes From...6 Where the Money Goes...6 Wherer the Money Is Invested...7 Summary of Property & Other Taxes Collected...8 Elected Officials...9

3 Citizens of Brown County The great state of Ohio celebrated its Bicentennial in Each of Ohio s 88 counties had one barn decorated with the official Ohio Bicentennial logo. Residents of each county are asked to nominate barns for designation as the official Bicentennial Barn for their county. Brown County s Bicentennial Barn is located on 3135 Stephenson Road in Ripley the barn faces US Route 52. This was the 57 th barn to be painted. The barn is owned by James or Anthony Groh. Scott Hagan, a Belmont County resident who has been retained by the state to paint each of the 88 barns, painted the logo. As Chief Financial Officer for Brown County, Ohio, I am pleased to present the 2003 & 2004 Citizens Financial Report. This report provides to those who support our local government, either directly or indirectly with a concise summary of the financial condition and activities of Brown County for the fiscal year ended December 31, Specifically, the Citizens Financial Report condenses and simplifies our 2003 and 2004 General Purpose Financial Statements for all Brown County funds, except the agency funds, enterprise fund (Brown County Hospital) and discretely presented component unit (Grow, Inc.). The 2003 and 2004 Annual Financial Report has been audited by the Auditor of State receiving an unqualified opinion and conforms to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The Citizens Financial Report is unaudited and presented on a non-gaap basis. I am always proud and humbled to have the opportunity to serve you the citizens of Brown County. Respectfully Submitted, Doug Green Brown County Auditor - 1 -

4 The Brown County Auditor s Office Fiscal Services (Finance and Payroll) The Brown County Auditor is the watchdog of County funds. As the chief fiscal officer of the County, it is the Auditor s responsibility to: Account for the millions of dollars received each year by the County. Issue warrants (checks) in payment of all county obligations, including the distribution of tax dollars to the townships, villages, school districts and library system, as well as other County agencies. To serve as the paymaster for all County employees. Administer and distribute motor vehicle license fees, gasoline taxes, estate taxes, local government funds, in addition to real estate, personal property and manufactured home taxes. Prepare the County s annual financial report as required by law. Additional Duties of the Auditor Secretary of the Budget Commission Secretary of the Board of Revision Tax Incentive Review Council Records Commission Real Estate Taxes and Rates The County Auditor cannot raise or lower property taxes. Tax rates are determined by the budgetary requests of each governmental unit, as authorized by vote of the people, and are computed in strict accordance with procedures required by the Ohio Department of Taxation, Division of Tax Equalization Each year, the Auditor prepares the general tax list. Your tax bill is based on the tax rate multiplied by your valuation on this tax list. This is your proportional share of the cost of operating your local government, including schools, villages, townships and the County. Under Ohio law, the amount of taxation without a vote of the people is limited to 10 mills ($10 per $1,000 of assessed valuation). County residents must vote any additional real estate taxes for any purpose. Your tax rate is the total of all these levies and bond issues. Real Estate Appraisal and Assessment In 2003 Brown County had approximately 32,754 separate parcels of real estate property. In 2004 there were approximately 33,013 separate parcels. It is the duty of the Auditor to ensure that every parcel of land and the buildings thereon are fairly and uniformly appraised and assessed for tax purposes. Ohio law mandates a general reappraisal every six years, with an update at the three-year midpoint. The office maintains a detailed record of the appraisal on each parcel in the County. These records are open for public inspection. For taxation purposes, property owners are assessed at 35 percent of fair market value

5 Real Estate Conveyance and CAUV This department is in charge of transferring all real estate that changes ownership in the County and for collecting fees on this activity. They maintain all ownership records, acreage changes and real estate splits, and provide information for maintaining tax plat maps. The Auditor is also in charge of administering the Current Agricultural Use Value (CAUV) program that allows farmland to be taxed at its value for that use. Agricultural districts and forest certification are other responsibilities of this department. Personal Property Tax The County Auditor acts, as an agent for the Ohio Department of Taxation, is responsible for administering the tangible personal property tax laws. Generally speaking, anyone in business in Ohio is subject to tangible personal property tax on equipment, furniture, fixtures and inventory used in business. The tangible personal property tax is distributed back to the local taxing districts in the same manner as real estate taxes. Licensing The Auditor s office is the focal point in the County for issuance of licenses for dogs, vendors and cigarettes. Brown County issued 8,735 dog licenses in 2003 and10,328 in Vendor licenses authorize businesses to sell tangible property to the public and collect sales tax, a part of which is returned for use at the local level. Manufactured Housing In 2003 there were approximately 4,065 manufactured homes in Brown County. In 2004 there were approximately 4,154 manufactured homes. Under Ohio law, it is the responsibility of owners of manufactured homes (house trailers) to register their homes with the County Auditor for tax purposes. Annually, the Auditor s office assesses each manufactured home and prepares a tax list. Tax bills are sent to each owner semiannually. The house trailer tax is distributed back to the local taxing districts in the same manner as real estate taxes. Weights and Measures The Brown County Auditor s office helps protect County residents and businesses by ensuring that all commercial weighing and measuring devices are accurate. Gas pumps, price scanners and meat and produce scales are checked regularly. In 2003, the Auditor s office inspected approximately 931 devices in locations throughout the County. In 2004 approximately 947 devices in locations

6 Financial Activity Statement SUMMARY The Financial Activity Statement, known in accounting terms as the Income Statement is designed to provide a record of the money received and spent during the year. Explanations of specific Resources and Services are shown in the following pages. RESOURCES Resources taken in are the amounts the County receives from a variety of different sources in order to pay for the services it provides. Property and Other Taxes are resources, which include Sales Tax, Real Estate Tax, Personal Property Tax and a variety of smaller taxes. Charges for Services are the combined resources of various County departments and agencies for fees paid to them by the public. Licenses & Permits are the revenues derived from selling these items. Fines and Forfeitures are the resources derived from fines levied in the courts and the monies received from a variety of forfeitures, including drug busts and seized property. Intergovernmental Revenues are the combined resources received from grants and from pass-through monies administered by the State of Ohio and the Federal Government. Investment Income is the earnings of the County Treasurer s investments, including the amount the County would realize if it sold all of its investments. SERVICES PROVIDED Services provided are the amounts spent in order to provide services to citizens. Legislative & Executive expenditures are the expenses incurred for administrative offices, including the Commissioners, Auditor, Treasurer, Prosecutor and Recorder. Judicial expenditures reflect the cost of administering justice through the Brown County Clerk of Courts, which include the Courts of Common Pleas, Juvenile and Domestic Relations. Public Safety expenditures reflect the costs of the Sheriff, Coroner and Probation Departments. Public Works expenditures reflect the costs incurred to maintain County roads and bridges. Health expenditures are those services to maintain public health. Human Services expenditures relate to the costs of the Human Services Department, the Board of Mental Retardation/Developmental Disabilities, and Children Services Board. Economic Development and Assistance expenditures represent monies spent to maintain and improve the business environment of the County. Capital Outlay expenditures are specifically related to the purchase, acquisition and construction of improvements to County buildings, land, equipment and vehicles. Debt Service expenditures relate to the costs of paying interest and principal on County debt

7 Activity Statement- General County Government For the Years Ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002 Resources Taken In Property and Other Taxes 6,103,953 5,464,896 5,413,968 Charges for Services 2,956,813 2,890,089 3,269,859 Licenses & Permits 16,150 86,402 4,090 Fines and Forfeitures 683, , ,145 Intergovernmental Revenues 13,783,006 12,183,832 12,576,314 Investment Income 314, , ,800 Other 810,616 1,134,556 1,042,531 Total Resources 24,668,357 22,790,891 23,478,707 Services Provided Legislative and Executive 4,552,747 4,867,265 4,669,094 Judicial 1,922,163 1,728,701 1,465,950 Public Safety 3,509,318 3,413,643 3,448,538 Public Works 3,348,314 8,788,112 4,586,680 Health 4,968,682 4,440,331 4,675,460 Human Services 4,460,593 4,536,416 4,710,755 Economical Development & Assistance 441, , ,632 Capital Outlay 495,932 Debt Services 841, , ,007 Total Services Provided 24,045,066 29,014,771 24,803,048 Resources Over (Under) Services Provided 623,291 (6,223,880) (1,324,341) Readers of the General Activity Statement should keep in mind that the statement is presented on a non-gaap basis. In addition, it should be noted that the statement above does not include the activity of the County s agency funds and enterprise fund (Brown County General Hospital), nor does it include activity of the County s discretely presented component unit, Grow, Inc

8 Where the Money Came From County Revenue 2003 Total Revenue $22,790, Total Revenue $24,668, County Revenues Property and Other Taxes Charges for Services 2004 County Revenues Property and Other Taxes Charges for Services 1% 5% 24% Licenses & Permit s 1% 3% 25% Licenses & Permits Fines and Forfeitures Fines and Forfeitures 54% 3% 13% 0% Intergovernmental Revenues Investment Income 56% 12% 0% 3% Int ergovernment al Revenues Investment Income Ot her Ot her Where the Money Goes 2003 Total Services & Expenses $29,014, Total Services & Expenses $24,045, County Expenses 16 % 15% 3% 1% 17% 6% 12 % 30% Legi sl ati ve and Executi ve Judicial Public Saf ety Public Works Heal th Human Ser vi ces Economical Development & Assistance Debt Services 2004 County Expenses 4% 2% 18% 19% 8% 20% 15% 14% Legi sl ati ve and Executi ve Judi ci al Public Safety Public Works Heal th Human Ser vi ces Economical Development & Assistance Debt Services - 6 -

9 Where the Money is Invested 2003 Total Investments December 31, $11,955, Invested Money 28% 2% 10% 3% Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Bonds Federal Farm Credit Bank Bonds Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds 15% 42% Federal National Mortgage Association Bonds Repurchase Agreements STAR Ohio Where the Money is Invested 2004 Total Investments December 31, $10,072, Invested Money 12% 12% 23% Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation Bonds Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds Federal National Mortgage Association Bonds 41% 12% Repurchase Agreements STAR Ohio This summary provides an analysis of the different types of investments carried by the County. The Total Investments refers the Market Value of the investments. Market Value refers to the amount the county could receive if it sold the investments

10 Summary of Property & Other Taxes Collected SALES TAX RECEIPTS 3,500,000 3,000,000 2,500,000 2,000,000 1,856,545 2,416,087 2,446,627 2,704,243 2,891,663 2,384,215 2,371,331 2,550, ,500,000 1,000, , REAL ESTATE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES The County Treasurer collects all real estate and personal property taxes. The County Auditor then distributes these funds to the entities to which they belong. The taxes collected 2004 were distributed based upon 2003 assessed values, levied in 2003 and collected in The taxes collected 2003 were distributed based upon 2002 assessed values, levied in 2002 and collected in Assessed Values of Property Tax Year Collect Year Real Property Public Utility Tangible Total $518,355,720 $26,690,370 $22,912,265 $567,958, $456,118,360 $26,704,190 $25,261,294 $508,083, $443,268,960 $26,791,920 $25,250,136 $495,311, $441,126,220 $44,589,342 $27,257,923 $512,973,

11 Brown County, Ohio Elected Officials Doug Green Auditor... (937) Danny L. Pride Clerk of Courts... (937) Kirby Cornett Commissioner... (937) Perry Ogden Commissioner... (937) Dale Reynolds Commissioner... (937) Dr. Timothy McKinley Coroner... (937) James Beasley Engineer... (937) Thomas F. Grennan Prosecutor... (937) Gary Himes Recorder... (937) Dewayne Wenninger Sheriff... (937) Gail DeClaire Treasurer... (937) R. Alan Corbin Judge, Court of Common Pleas, General Division... (937) Ronald S. Dvorachek Judge, Probate and Juvenile Court.. (937) Thomas F. Zachman Judge, County Court... (937) Margaret Clark Judge, County Court... (937)

12 This report issued by: Questions, comments or suggestions regarding this report can be directed to the County Auditor s office at (937) or (888) A variety of other information can be found at the County Auditor s website at