Finance & Other Information

Overview

Management of the City is responsible for establishing and maintaining an internal control structure designed to ensure the assets of the City are protected from loss, theft or misuse and to ensure that adequate accounting data is compiled to allow for the preparation of financial statements in conformity with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). The internal control structure is designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute, assurance that these objectives are met. The concept of reasonable assurance recognizes that: 

  1. the cost of a control should not exceed the benefits likely to be derived;
  2. the valuation of costs and benefits requires estimates and judgments by management.

As a recipient of Federal, State, and local financial assistance, the City is responsible for ensuring an adequate internal control structure is in place and document compliance with applicable laws and regulations related to these programs. This internal control structure is subject to periodic evaluation by management and the internal audit staff of the government.

Cash Management Policies & Practices

During the year, temporarily idle cash is invested in the Local Agency Investment Fund (LAIF), the San Mateo County Investment Pool, or Certificates of Deposits.

The City's investment policy is to minimize credit and market risks while maintaining a competitive yield on its portfolio. Accordingly, the majority of deposits are either insured by Federal Depository Insurance or collateralized. Nearly all investments held by the City at June 30, 2009, are classified in the category of lowest custodial credit risk as defined by the Government Accounting Standards Board (GASB).

The basic objectives of Millbrae's investment program are, in order of priority:

  1. Safety
  2. Liquidity, and
  3. Yield

The Investment Policy is reviewed annually to ensure consistency with respect to the overall objectives of safety, liquidity and yield, and relevance to current laws and financial trends. Proposed amendments to the Policy are prepared by the Finance Department and reviewed and approved by the City Treasurer, City Manager, and the City Council.

Risk Management

The City participates in the Association of Bay Area Governments (ABAG) Plan Corporation, a nonprofit benefit corporation established to provide liability insurance coverage, claims and risk management, and legal defense to its participating members. The ABAG Plan provides $10 million of general liability coverage per occurrence and is responsible for paying claims in excess of the City's $100,000 deductible. The City has also purchased excess coverage insurance for worker's compensation claims from CSAC EIA with a $300,000 deductible. In addition, various risk control techniques, including annual safety audits and employee accident prevention training, have been implemented to minimize losses.

Independent Audit

State statutes require an annual audit by independent certified public accountants. The firm of Maze and Associates was awarded the auditing contract by the City Council. In addition to meeting the requirements set forth in state statutes, the audit was also designed to meet the requirements of the Federal Single Audit Act Amendments of 1996 and the related U.S. Office of Management and Budget's Circular A-133. Generally accepted auditing standards and the standards set forth in the General Accounting Office's Government Auditing Standards were used by the auditors in conducting the engagement. The auditor's report on the basic financial statements and supplemental information is included in the financial section of Annual Comprehensive Financial Reports (ACFR) available on the website.

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 Millbrae for its Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for 17 consecutive years. The Certificate of Achievement is a prestigious national award recognizing conformance with the highest standards for the preparation of state and local government financial reports. In order to be awarded a Certificate of Achievement, a governmental unit must publish an easily readable and efficiently organized ACFR whose contents conform to program standards. The ACFR must satisfy both generally accepted accounting principles and applicable legal requirements.