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CITY OF RAMSEY Management's Discussion and Analysis Year Ended December 31, 2015 As management of the City of Ramsey, Minnesota (the City), we have provided readers of the City's financial statements with this narrative overview and analysis of the financial activities of the City for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS • The City's assets and deferred outflows of resources exceeded its liabilities and deferred inflows of resources at December 31, 2015 by $156,486,622 (net position). The City's total net positon increased by $14,480,585 during the year ended December 31, 2015, excluding a change in accounting principle in the current year as discussed below. • The City recorded a change in accounting principle in the current year for reporting the City's participation in the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) pension plan. This change reduced beginning net position in the government -wide financial statements by $4,389,298. • Government -wide revenues totaled $32,580,624 and were $14,480,585 more than expenses of $18,100,039. • As of the close of the current fiscal year, the City's governmental funds reported a combined ending fund balance of $38,737,375, an increase of $5,174,887 from the prior fiscal year. OVERVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) is intended to serve as an introduction to the City's basic financial statements, which are comprised of three components: 1) government -wide financial statements, 2) fund financial statements, and 3) notes to basic financial statements. This report also contains other information in addition to the basic financial statements themselves. Government -Wide Financial Statements — The government -wide financial statements are designed to provide readers with a broad overview of the City's finances, in a manner similar to private sector businesses. The Statement of Net Position presents information on all of the City's assets, liabilities, and deferred inflows/outflows, as applicable, (excluding Fiduciary Funds), with the difference reported as net position. Over time, increases or decreases in net position may serve as a useful indicator of whether the financial position of the City is improving or deteriorating. The Statement of Activities presents information showing how the City's net position changed during the most recent fiscal year. All changes in net position are reported as soon as the underlying event giving rise to the change occurs, regardless of the timing of related cash flows. Thus, revenues and expenses are reported in this statement for some items that will only result in cash flows in future fiscal periods (e.g. delinquent taxes and special assessments). Both of the government -wide financial statements distinguish functions of the City that are principally supported by property taxes and intergovernmental revenues (governmental activities) from other functions that are intended to recover all or a significant portion of their costs through user fees and charges (business -type activities). The governmental activities include general government, public safety, highways and streets, and culture and recreation. The business -type activities of the City include enterprises for water, sewer, street light, recycling, and storm water utilities. 27