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Fort Walton Beach — Fiscal Year 2019-20 Adopted Budget — reading text
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financial resources, together with all related liabilities and residual equities or balances, and
changes therein, which are segregated for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or
attaining certain objectives in accordance with special regulations, restrictions, or limitations.
FUND BALANCE
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The difference between current financial assets and liabilities accounted for in a
governmental fund; the net available financial resources externally or internally constrained
as to use. Might be better described as a measure of liquidity rather than net worth. It
attempts to measure how much would be left over at the end of the current fiscal year for the
subsequent fiscal year’s budget were the government to budget in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
GASB 34
An accounting standard issued by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board applicable
to all state and local governments. Compliance with GASB 34 is necessary in the preparation
of financial statements in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.
GENERAL FUND
Accounts for primarily unrestricted resources and those resources not requiring reporting
elsewhere. This fund exists from inception of the government throughout the government’s
existence.
GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND
A bond for which payment is pledged based on the full faith and credit of the issuing
government.
GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES (GAAP)
A uniform accounting and financial reporting system used by the City to accurately track all
government expenditures, revenues, assets, and liabilities.
GOVERNMENT FINANCE OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (GFOA)
A professional association of state and local finance officers that has served the public
finance profession since 1906.
GOVERNMENTAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD (GASB)
An organization that establishes and improves the standards of state and local governmental
accounting and financial reporting to produce meaningful information for users of financial
reports.
GOVERNMENTAL FUND
Type of fund through which most governmental functions typically are financed and
accounts for taxes, grants, and similar resources. Includes general, special revenue, capital
projects, debt service, and permanent fund types. May be referred to as "source and use"
funds.
IMPACT FEE
Imposed on new construction in order to support specific new demands on a given service
(i.e. streets, water lines, sewer lines, parks, police, fire).
IMPROVEMENT OTHER THAN BUILDING
An attachment or annexation to land that is intended to remain attached or annexed, such as
sidewalks, trees, drives, tunnels, drains, and sewers. Sidewalks, curbing, sewers and
highways are sometimes referred to as betterments, but the term “improvements” is
preferred.
INVESTMENT
Most commonly, securities and real estate held for the production of revenues in the form of
interest, dividends, rentals, or lease payments. The term does not include fixed assets used
in government operations.
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LAW ENFORCEMENT TRUST and TRAINING FUNDS (LETFs)
The Law Enforcement Trust Fund accounts for funds received from the sale of confiscated
property that are used for drug enforcement. The Law Enforcement Training Fund accounts
for funds received from court fines that are used for additional Police Department training.
LEGAL DEBT LIMIT
The State of Florida does not place a legal limit of debt on the municipalities. For general
obligation debts greater than one year, the City must conduct a voter referendum process.
Special revenue debt is pledged by a specific revenue source and limited by available
revenue; therefore it is not subject to voter referendum.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
Branch of the Department of Revenue that computes and published estimates for the
following state-shared revenue sources: communication services tax, half-cent sales tax,
local option fuel tax, and municipal revenue sharing.
MACHINERY AND EQUIPMENT
Property that does not lose its identity when removed from its location and is not changed
materially or consumed immediately (i.e. within one year) by use.
MAJOR FUND
Any fund constituting 10% or more of the appropriated budget, and typically presented
separately on summary charts.
METROPOLITAN STATISTICAL AREA (MSA)
A core area containing a substantial population nucleus, together with adjacent communities
having a high degree of social and economic integration with that core. The Fort Walton
Beach MSA includes all of Okaloosa County.
MILLAGE RATE
A tax rate on property expressed in mills per dollar value of property. One mill equals $1
per $1,000 of assessed taxable property value.
MODIFIED ACCRUAL BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
A basis of accounting under which revenues are recognized in the accounting period in which
they become both available and measurable and expenditures are recognized in the
accounting period in which the fund liability is incurred, if measurable, except for unmatured
interest on general long-term debt and certain similar accrued obligations, which should be
recognized when due. All governmental funds use the modified accrual basis of accounting.
MUNICIPAL PLANNING BOARD (MPB)
Acts in an advisory capacity to the City Council on rezoning and development regulations,
and monitors the implementation of the City's Comprehensive Plan. The seven members
serve four-year terms, must be City of Fort Walton Beach residents, and are limited to two
successive terms. The board meets the first Thursday of each month at 5 PM in the Council
Chambers at City Hall.
MUNICIPALITY
A political unit, such as a city, town, or village, incorporated for local self-government.
NET ASSETS
The difference between assets and liabilities accounted for in an enterprise fund. Might be
described as a measure of net worth. It attempts to measure how much left over at the end
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of the current fiscal year for the subsequent fiscal year’s budget were the government to
budget in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).
NON-MAJOR FUND
Any fund constituting less than 10% of the appropriated budget, and typically presented in
the aggregate with like funds on summary charts.
NON-OPERATING EXPENSE
A fund expense not directly related to the fund’s primary activities.
NON-OPERATING REVENUE
A fund revenue incidental to or a by-product of the fund’s primary activities.
NON-RECURRING EXPENSE
A one-time expense, such as the purchase of a computer or a piece of equipment.
OPERATING BUDGET
A plan of current expenditures and the proposed means of financing them. The annual
operating budget is the primary means by which most of the financing acquisition, spending,
and service delivery activities of a government are controlled.
OPERATING TRANSFER
An inter-fund transfer other than a residual equity transfer (i.e. a legally authorized transfer
from a fund receiving revenue to the fund through which the resources are to be expended).
ORDINANCE
A formal legislative enactment by the governing body of a municipality. If it is not in conflict
with any higher form of law, such as state statute or constitutional provision, it has the full
force and effect of law within the boundaries of the municipality to which it applies.
Ordinarily, the statutes or charter will specify or imply those legislative actions that must be
by ordinance and those that may be by resolution. The difference between an ordinance and
a resolution is that the latter requires less legal formality and has a lower legal status.
Revenue raising measures, such as the imposition of taxes, special assessments, and service
charges, universally require ordinances.
PAY AS YOU GO
A type of financing whereby current revenues, taxes, and/or grants rather than long term debt
are used to pay for capital improvements.
PAY AS YOU USE
A type of financing whereby long term debt rather than current revenues is used to pay for
capital improvements.
PERSONAL SERVICES
The combination of regular wages, overtime, incentive pay, social security, Medicare, and
benefits including deferred compensation, retirement, insurance (dental, health, & life), and
worker’s compensation.
PLAN FOR NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION (PNA)
The action plan developed by each neighborhood in response to the issues and concerns
brought forward by that particular neighborhood in the Great Neighborhoods Partnership
Program. The PNA’s are then placed in the future land use element of the City’s
Comprehensive Plan Directions.
PRO FORMA
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A financial statement for an enterprise fund that illustrates projected cash flows and changes
in net assets. Pro forma statements may be used to demonstrate the expected effect of
proposed changes to revenues or expenses on the fund’s financial viability. Lenders require
such statements to structure or confirm compliance with debt covenants such as debt service
reserve coverage and debt to equity ratios.
PROPRIETARY FUND
Type of fund used to account for a government's ongoing organizations and activities which
are similar to those often found in the private sector. Fund types include enterprise and
internal service funds. May be referred to as "income-determining" funds.
PUBLIC SAFETY
The combination of Police and Fire services.
RECURRING EXPENSE
An expense incurred year after year, such as a maintenance contract for software or
equipment.
REFUND
To pay back or allow credit for an amount due to an over collection or the return of an object
sold.
RESOLUTION
A special or temporary order of a legislative body; an order of a legislative body requiring
less legal formality than an ordinance or statute.
REVENUE
An increase in the net current assets of a fund from sources other than expenditure refunds
and residual equity transfers.
REVENUE BOND
A bond whose principal and interest are payable exclusively from earnings of an enterprise
fund.
ROLL-BACK RATE
The millage rate that will provide the same ad Valorem tax revenue for the taxing authority
as was levied during the prior year, exclusive of new construction, additions to structures,
deletions, increases in the value of improvements that have undergone a substantial
rehabilitation which increased the assessed value of such improvements by at least 100
percent, and property added due to geographic boundary changes.
SANITATION ENTERPRISE FUND
Accounts for the revenues and expenditures of the City’s solid waste and recycling
operations.
“SAVE OUR HOMES”
A Florida constitutional amendment approved by voters in 1992 that provides a $25,000
exemption and limits the amount a homestead property can increase in value on the tax rolls
each year. The law limits value increases to three percent or a figure equal to the Consumer
Price Index - whichever is less.
SHARED REVENUE
Revenue levied by one government but shared on a predetermined basis, often in proportion
to the amount collected at the local level, with another government or class of governments.
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SPECIAL PROJECT CARRY-OVER
A project carried forward to the next fiscal year due to incompletion. The project was
originally budgeted in the year appropriated, so appropriation is likewise carried forward.
SPECIAL REVENUE FUND
Accounts for resources restricted by law or contract for specific purposes. The fund exists
only for the life of the restriction.
STATUTE
A written law enacted by a duly
