Fort Walton Beach — Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, September 30, 2022 — reading text

Council for consideration. The City Council is required by Florida Statutes and the City Charter to hold public hearings on the proposed budget and adopt a final budget no later than September 30th, the close of the City’s fiscal year. The appropriated budget is prepared by fund, department (e.g. financial services), and division (e.g. purchasing). Department Directors may request transfers of appropriations within a department and between divisions to transfer appropriations between line items, not to increase the total budget or to transfer resources between funds. Transfers of appropriations between funds require the approval of the City Council. The budget may be amended at any time by Resolution of City Council. Budget-to-actual comparisons are provided in the report for each individual governmental fund for which an appropriated annual budget has been adopted. For the General Fund and the Community Redevelopment Agency Fund, this comparison is presented on pages 21 & 22 as part of the basic financial statements for the governmental funds. For governmental funds with appropriated annual budgets, other than those previously mentioned, this comparison is presented in the combining and individual fund statements and schedules, Section D of this report, which starts on page 100. FACTORS AFFECTING FINANCIAL CONDITION The information presented in the financial statements is best understood when it is considered from the broader perspective of the specific environment within which the City of Fort Walton Beach operates. Local Economy The FY 2022-2023 budget of $56,767,451 is $3.9M, or 7.4%, more than the adopted FY 2021-2022 budget. The increase is primarily due to the inclusion of Capital Improvement Projects in the General Fund, Enterprise Funds (Utilities & Stormwater), and the CRA Fund. The budget is predicated on lowering the millage rate to 4.9999 mills; as a result, ad valorem revenues will increase by 2.57% citywide. Eglin Air Force Base is the world’s largest Department of Defense installation, spanning 724 square miles. Defense contractor companies are established throughout the Northwest Florida region. It is estimated that local military bases currently represent a $22 billion annual economic impact on the area, with approximately 70% of the local economy supported by the military. Being located on the Gulf of Mexico in Northwest Florida, tourism is a large part of the regional economy. Regional accolades continue to enhance the area’s image, promote visibility, and generate additional tourism and sales tax dollars. Local tourism has benefited from the national shift to vacation sites accessible by driving instead of flying. The Fort Walton Beach-Destin area is a popular drive destination in Florida, according to a survey of auto visitors by Visit Florida. vii  Long-Term Financial Planning The City undertakes several processes to assist in future planning, such as:  A five-year Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Plan is developed and approved by City Council each year during the annual budget process.  Five-year replacement plans for capital equipment, including vehicles, equipment, and computer hardware and software, are also developed and approved by management each year during the annual budget process.  Annual Strategic Plan, which focuses on a one-to-three-year time period. Relevant Financial Policies The City has several financial policies that are utilized during daily operations, as well as during the budget and financial planning processes. The City utilizes fund balance reserves only for one-time non-recurring expenditures. In addition, the City maintains its fund balance level in the General Fund at 30% of fund expenditures – this policy helps to ensure that the City has sufficient funding in place for emergency and disaster relief. Major Initiatives These financial policies, as well as other indicators, were considered when adopting the City’s budget for FY 2022-2023. The City’s budget for FY 2022-2023 allocates $28.5 million to the General Fund, $20.8 million to the Enterprise Funds, and $7.5 million to Other Funds. For the FY 2022-2023 budget, the ad valorem rate decreased to a millage rate of 4.9999 mills. The FY 2022-2023 budget includes Year 3 of the five-year utility rate study, which was adopted by City Council on August 11, 2020. The utility rate study included recommendations on rate structures for water and wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste. The FY 2022-2023 fire services assessment rates were set to generate the same amount of revenues as FY 2021-2022 assessment, approximately $1.11 million. This is Year 3 of the collection method being moved to the annual ad valorem tax bill through the Okaloosa County Tax Collector’s Office. No other significant changes to the City’s various rates and fees are included in the FY 2022-2023 budget. AWARDS AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Awards 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 Fort Walton Beach for its Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2021. This was the nineteenth consecutive year that the City received this prestigious award. To be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, the City must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, satisfying both GAAP and applicable legal requirements. A Certificate of Achievement is valid for a period of one (1) year only. Staff believes the current report continues to meet the Certificate of Achievement Program requirements and will be submitted to the GFOA to determine its eligibility for another certificate. In addition, the City also received the GFOA’s Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for its annual budget dated October 1, 2022. This was the twenty-seventh consecutive year that the City received this prestigious award. To qualify for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award, the City’s budget document was judged proficient in several categories, including as a policy document, a financial plan, an operations guide, and a communications device. viii Acknowledgments The preparation of this report would not have been possible without the efficient and dedicated services of the entire staff of the Finance Department. I would like to express my appreciation to all members of the Department who assisted and contributed to the preparation of this report. I would also like to thank the Mayor and City Council for their unfailing support for maintaining the highest standards of professionalism in the management of the City of Fort Walton Beach’s finances and for their attention in conducting the financial operations of the City in a responsible and progressive manner. Appreciation is also expressed to the accounting firm of Warren Averett, LLC for their continued assistance and professionalism. Respectfully submitted, Jeff Peters Acting City Manager ix Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting Presented to City of Fort Walton Beach Florida For its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report For the Fiscal Year Ended September 30, 2021 Executive Director/CEO x  Citizens of Fort Walton Beach City Council City Clerk City Manager City Attorney 2 FTE 4 FTE 0400 0200 Public Works Growth Management Financial Fire Services Human Resources Police Services Recreation Services and Utility Services 15.25 FTE Services 44.25 FTE 9 FTE 71.17 FTE 69.62 FTE 81 FTE 15.50 FTE 1200 to 1217 & 2000 0500 & 0520 & 0530 0900 0300 & 0320 0800 1000 to 1080 1220-1240 &1300-1380 Utility Administration Building Inspections Accounting Advanced Life Human Resources Uniform Patrol Athletics – Adult & & Permitting Support Youth Fleet & Facilities Auditing Insurance & Risk K-9 Patrol Code Enforcement Fire Suppression Management Recreation Centers GIS/CAD Budgeting Criminal and Programming CDBG Fire Prevention IT Investigations Sanitation Purchasing Grounds Planning Fire Inspection Community Policing/ Maintenance: Parks, Sewer Collections Debt Service & CRA CRA Management Hazardous Materials Right-Of-Way and Stormwater Response Crime Prevention Cemetery Treasury Streets Fire Education Communications Library Utility Billing Water Distribution Records Museum Contingencies & Water Operations Transfers Support Services Golf Club Operations School Crossing Guards Reserve Officers xi