Laserfiche WebLink
8. CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS AND GOVERNMENTAL <br />AGENCIES <br />8.A. Clerk of Court - Indian River County Comprehensive Annual <br />Financial Report (CAFR) for FY 1996-97 <br />Clerk of Court Jeffrey K. Barton apologized that it had been necessary to remove this <br />item from a previous agenda due to emergency dental surgery. <br />Clerk Barton advised that the CAFR had been previously distributed to the <br />Commissioners and that copies had been placed in both Libraries for public access. He <br />reported that an unqualified opinion has been received again this year and the CAFR has <br />been submitted to the GFOA for the annual award. He displayed one of the 15 annual <br />awards the office has received. The theme of the CAFR this year is acquisitions of <br />environmentally sensitive lands. It contains photos of properties that have been purchased <br />with brief descriptions. <br />Ross Cotherman, Cotherman and Associates, CPA, the auditor in charge, remarked <br />(in jest) that he never knew so many people would come out to hear a presentation of the <br />financial statement. He gave a quick overview of the CAFR which is made up of 5 sections: <br />Introductory, Financial, Statistical, Single Audit, and Auditor General. His office is <br />primarily responsible for issuing opinions on the financial, single audit, and auditor general <br />sections. He briefly explained what each section contained. He pointed out that on page <br />1 of the Financial section is their unqualified opinion, the highest level a CPA firm can issue <br />on a set of financial statements. Mr. Cotherman described the contents in the CAFR's <br />various sections and advised that the Auditor General Section is new this year and contains <br />stand-alone financial statements for the constitutional officers. <br />Mr. Cotherman then described the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting <br />which the Finance Department has received for the past 15 years. He felt the County should <br />be very proud of these awards (displayed on the wall on the third floor hallway)and the <br />commitment of the Finance Department to report above and beyond the minimum standards <br />required for governmental audit reporting. He was very proud to be associated with it and <br />pleased that he is able to help the County continue to receive the award. <br />Mr. Cotherman offered to sit down with any of the Commissioners to discuss the <br />financial statements. He extended thanks to Clerk Barton, Finance Director Ed Fry, and <br />Assistant Finance Director Jeff Smith who have done a fine job assisting the audit team <br />which comes in from November through February. He offered to answer questions. <br />May 12,1998 <br />25 <br />