1988 CAFR - Laserfiche WebLink

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THE ©OTTS SERVO©CS The City provides a variety of municipal services. These include police protection, street maintenance, building inspection, planning and zoning, public improvements, general administrative services, and public water and sewer utilities. The City currently contracts for fire protection from the neighboring Cities of Anoka, on the southern border, and Elk River, on the western border. The City also contracts for engineering and legal professional services. In the fall of 1988 the City Council approved the formation of the Ramsey Volunteer Fire Department. It is expected that our Fire Department will be fully equipped, staffed, and operational by January 1, 1991. GOVERNMENT NT OnaQmoznmOlN1 The City is organized as a Home Rule City under a City Charter adopted in 1984. The City Council consists of a Mayor and four Councilmembers and is elected at large on a non- partisan basis. Elections are held in November of each even - numbered year. The terms of office are two years for the Mayor and four years for Councilmembers, but no more than two Councilmembers' terms expire in any one year. The City Charter also requires the appointment of an administrative officer to assist in the administration of City affairs. REPOG3TBNG ENTfTY All City funds and account groups, departments, commissions, and other organizations over which the Mayor and City Council of the City of Ramsey exercise oversight responsibility are presented in the City of Ramsey's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. There are no other organizations that when considered would be included in the financial statements. fFONaNCOQL ON FOG°3OS TOGO N ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. The City's accounting system is organized and operated on a fund basis. Each fund or account group is a distinct self - balancing accounting entity. The various funds and account groups utilized by the City are described in Note 1 of the financial statements. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING. The modified accrual basis is followed by the governmental funds, expendable trust funds, and agency funds. Under this method of accounting, revenues are recognized when susceptible to accrual, i.e. both measurable and available. Available means collectible within the current period or soon enough thereafter to be used to pay liabilities of the current period. Expenditures, other than interest on long term debt, are recorded as the related liabilities are incurred. The accrual basis of accounting is followed by the Sewer and Water Proprietary Fund. Under this method of accounting, revenues are recognized when they are earned and expenses are recognized when they are incurred. vi