Overall, the auditors gave the City of Monticello a good review for the fiscal year ending on Sept. 30, 2009.

"All in all, everything looks great," CPA Chris Cayer, of Brooks Harrison and Cayer LLC, told the Monticello City Council on Tuesday evening, March 2. "We're in good shape."

The only deficiency that the review found was the typical one of the city's lack of internal controls over its financial reporting because of its small and limited staff. Which deficiency makes it difficult for management or employees to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis, Cayer said. The solution, he said, was to hire an outside consultant to do the annual audits, which the city does.

Cayer pointed out that the general fund showed a cash increase and was doing better than the previous year. Tellingly, the increase was due to the receipt of grants for projects such as the Pearl Street and Monticello parks, he added. Still, expenditures were down and revenues exceeded expenditures by $136,227 at the end of the year, compared with a revenue excess of $5,950 over expenditures last year, he said.

The city started the fiscal year with a $283,540 fund balance and finished the year with a $403,767 fund balance in the general fund, compared with a $25,289 beginning fund balance and $283,540 end-of-year fund balance in 2008.

"The bottom line is 2009 looks good," Cayer said.

In the water and sewer fund, also called the proprietary fund, Cayer noted that total net assets were up, from $6,162,826 last year to $7,089,600 this year, while total liabilities were down, from $3,012,639 last year to $2,606,896 this year.

"This is a good trend," Cayer said.

He further noted that operating expenses were down, from $923,020 last year to $816,867 this year; and professional fees also were down, from $109,912 last year, to $43,134 this year.

Cayer told the council members that the important number that they needed to watch in terms of the water and sewer fund was the operating income of $164,525. Subtract the $98,978 in what he labeled "total non-operating revenues or expenses", and it left $65,547, he said.

"That's the number you need to be looking at," Cayer said, meaning that the latter number reflected a more true account of the revenues the operation was generating, absent grants and other capital contributions.

But overall, Cayer said, the city was doing well.

"We're in good shape," he repeated.

He warned, however, that state revenues could be expected to be down next year, and that next year's audit would entail a lot more paperwork, as it would involve the federal stimulus monies that the city received this year for the sewer rehabilitation project.

City Manager Steve Wingate added as a point of explanation that the reason expenditures were up in the water and sewer operations was because the city was taking care of much maintenance and other work that had been overlooked in past years.

Congressman Allen Boyd, left, accepts a coffee mug and a thank you from Monticello Rotary President Mal Joplin after his presentation to the membership on Friday, March 5.

One concern he hears much too often is that there is too much fussing between the Democrats and Republicans, Boyd said. He'd like that to change for the better.

Another concern he hears is the redistricting of the voters districts and polarization. He's against the way it is now. He's for balance, Boyd said.

Boyd touched briefly on the healthcare issue. "Let's do something about healthcare that will benefit all concerned, and let's do something about 'pre-existing conditions' in the healthcare bill," he said. His wants for the healthcare bill are: reducing the cost, having the bill include everyone, for the bill to allow choice, and for all to be responsible.

He told the audience that Congress hasn't figured the budget deficit yet. "It's been a struggle. We can't spend more than we bring in. Let's just pay as we go."

He gave a quick explanation of the Blue Dogs, the southern Democratic group organized in 1995. He's proud to be a member of a group that represents rural districts.

"And, let's not mess with agriculture," he said. "We hardly hear a complaint about the agriculture industry. Let's keep it that way."

On the matter of the economy, he recommends taking incremental steps towards a better future. The economy took a turn some nine years ago and then the recession hit hard in the last quarter of 2008. It will take more than an Please See Congressman Page 4Aovernight fix to get it back on track, he said.

What his talk came down to was that Boyd is for a healthy, educated nation for all.

Latest press releases from the Congressman's website include titles such as Boyd votes to spur job creation in North Florida, Boyd fights to protect local fishermen, and Boyd seeks constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget.

Rotarian Hines Boyd introduced the Congressman and his assistant, Travis Hart.

The March 12 meeting of the Rotary will include a program by Jeff Hendrey, executive director of the FSU Florida Institute of Government. He will be introduced by member Tom Conley.