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CITY OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 1995 Note 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) L. Budgets and Budgetary Accountinu The City follows these procedures in establishing the budgetary data reflected in the financial statements. 1) The City Administrator submits to the City Council proposed operating budgets for the fiscal year commencing on January 1 of the following year. The operating budgets include proposed expenditures and the means of financing them. The Council is provided with budgets that set forth the total for each budgeted fund and each department, function or program, with segregation as to objects and purpose of expenditures. 2) Public hearings are conducted to obtain public comments. 3) The budgets are legally enacted through passage of a resolution. 4) After the budget resolution has been adopted, the council may by a resolution approved by a 4/5 vote of its members, reduce the sums appropriated for any purpose by the budget resolution, or authorize the transfer of sums from unencumbered balances of appropriations in the budget resolution to other purposes. However, the Council may not increase the amounts fixed in the resolution beyond the estimated funds available except to the extent that actual receipts exceed the estimated funds available. 5) Formal budgetary integration is employed as a management control device during the year for the following funds: General Fund Special Revenue Funds - Tax Increment Fund Economic Development Authority Fund Enterprise Funds - Water Utility Sewer Utility Street Light Utility Recycling Utility For remaining Special Revenue Funds and Capital Project Funds, effective budgetary control is achieved through the use of project controls. Budgetary control for Debt Service Funds is achieved through bond indenture provisions. 6) Formal budgets are adopted on a basis consistent with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). 7) As required by City Charter, the Council sets the legal level of budgetary control. Control is maintained at the department level, for all budgeted funds. This provides management the ability to alter the budget between line items in each department but cannot exceed the total budgeted for each department for . the year without specific Council approval. Budgeted amounts presented are as originally adopted, or as amended by the City Council. Individual amendments were not material in relation to the original appropriations which were amended. Budgeted expenditure appropriations lapse at year -end. Encumbrances outstanding at year -end expire and are not reported in the financial statements. —14--