Fort Walton Beach — Comprehensive Financial Report September 30, 2015 — reading text

Statements Performed in Accordance with Government Auditing Standards; Independent Auditors’ Report on Compliance for Each Major State Project and on Internal Control over Compliance in Accordance with Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General; the Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs; and Independent Accountants’ Report on an Examination of Compliance Requirements in Accordance with Chapter 10.550, Rules of the Auditor General. Disclosures in this report, which are dated March 2, 2016, should be considered in conjunction with this management letter. Prior Audit Findings Section 10.554(1)(i)1., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we determine whether or not corrective actions have been taken to address findings and recommendations made in the preceding annual financial report. There were no findings identified in the preceding annual final report. Official Title and Legal Authority Section 10.554(1)(i)4., Rules of Auditor General, requires that the name or official title and legal authority for the primary government and each component unit of the reporting entity be disclosed in this management letter, unless disclosed in the notes to the financial statements. The City of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was established as a municipality by a Special Act of the Florida Legislature in 1937. The City's original charter was enacted as Chapter 18539, Laws of Florida. 140 Official Title and Legal Authority – Continued The present charter was enacted in 1953 as Chapter 29093, Laws of Florida. The City had one component unit within its reporting entity. The Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency was created pursuant to provisions of Chapter 163, Part III, Florida Statutes. This action, adopted by Resolution Number 77–38, also outlines the rights, powers, duties, privileges, and immunities invested in the governing body. City ordinance 1262, adopted on September 27, 1994, gave the City Council the authority to appoint an independent Board of Commissioners in place of the City Council effective January 1, 1995. During 1992, the Florida Department of Community Affairs determined that the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority was a dependent special district of the City. Utilizing the standards set forth in GASB 61, the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority was not considered as having met sufficient criteria for inclusion within the City's audited financial statements for the year ended September 30, 2015. As a result, the Fort Walton Beach Housing Authority is not included in the City's annual financial report. During 2011, the Fort Walton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (the Agency) became a blended component unit of the City. The City's council members serve as board members of the Agency. The Agency's governing body is the same as the governing body of the City and the Agency provides services specifically to the Community Redevelopment Area of the City. Due to the nature and significance of the Agency's relationship with the City, exclusion of the Agency's financial operations would render the City's financial statements incomplete or misleading. Financial Condition Section 10.554(1)(i)5,.a. and 10.556(7), Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we apply appropriate procedures and report the results of our determination as to whether or not the City has met one or more of the conditions described in Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes, and identification of the specific condition(s) met. In connection with our audit, we determined that the City did not meet any of the conditions described in Section 218.503(1), Florida Statutes. Pursuant to Sections 10.554(1)(i)5.c., and 10.556(8), Rules of the Auditor General, we applied financial condition assessment procedures. It is management's responsibility to monitor the City's financial condition, and our financial condition assessment was based in part on representations made by management and the review of financial information provided by same. Annual Financial Report Section 10.554(1)(i)5.b. and 10.556(7), Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we apply appropriate procedures and report the results of our determination as to whether the annual financial report for the City, for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015, filed with the Florida Department of Financial Services pursuant to Section 218.32(1)(a), Florida Statutes, is in agreement with the annual financial audit report for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2015. In connection with our audit, we determined that these two reports were in agreement. 141 Special District Component Units Section 10.554(1)(i)5.d, Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we determine whether or not a special district that is a component unit of a county, municipality, or special district, provided the financial information necessary for proper reporting of the component unit, within the audited financial statements of the county, municipality, or special district in accordance with Section 218.39(3)(b), Florida Statutes. In connection with our audit, we determined that all special district component units provided the necessary information for proper reporting in accordance with Section 218.39(3)(b), Florida Statutes. Other Matters Section 10.554(1)(i)2., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address in the management letter any recommendations to improve financial management. In connection with our audit, we did not have any such recommendations. Section 10.554(1)(i)3., Rules of the Auditor General, requires that we address noncompliance with provisions of contracts or grant agreements, or abuse, that have occurred, or are likely to have occurred, that have an effect on the financial statements that is less than material but which warrants the attention of those charged with governance. In connection with our audit, we did not have any such findings. Purpose of this Letter Our management letter is intended solely for the information and use of the Legislative Auditing Committee, members of the Florida Senate and the Florida House of Representatives, the Florida Auditor General, Federal and other granting agencies, the City Council Members, and applicable management, and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties. We greatly appreciate the assistance and cooperation extended us during our audit. Fort Walton Beach, Florida March 2, 2016 142 (THIS PAGE INTENTIONALLY LEFT BLANK.)