YELLOW SHEET
Office of the State Auditor of Missouri
Claire McCaskill
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YELLOW SHEET Office of the State Auditor of Missouri |
Report No. 2000-20
March 27, 2000
The annual review of audits of fire protection districts in St. Louis County has been completed. This review covered reports for the year ended December 31, 1998.
The State Auditor accepted all of the required reports that were received for the year ended December 31, 1998.
For 1998, sixteen of twenty-two districts had increases in their General Fund balances. The aggregate General Fund balance of all districts increased by eight percent in 1998. Since 1991, the General Fund balances of fire districts overall have increased between eight and fifteen percent annually.
The following chart shows recent years' aggregate information.
| General Fund | |||
| Total Revenue | Total Expenditures | Total Fund Balances | |
| 1991 | $ 48,915,503 | 44,395,868 | 52,480,031 |
| 1992 | 52,295,317 | 47,537,634 | 57,237,714 |
| 1993 | 53,989,806 | 48,373,722 | 62,853,798 |
| 1994 | 57,135,381 | 51,965,982 | 68,023,197 |
| 1995 | 61,991,961 | 54,654,061 | 75,361,097 |
| 1996 | 68,187,085 | 57,186,465 | 86,361,717 |
| 1997 | 69,942,182 | 62,514,665 | 93,789,234 |
| 1998 | 74,548,435 | 66,937,792 | 101,399,877 |
In previous reviews it was noted that several districts had large General Fund balances in relation to expenditures. Ten districts reserved a portion of their 1998 fund balance for new firehouses, additional equipment, future years' operations and other uses. The following chart shows the total fund balance to General Fund expenditures ratio as well as the ratio of unreserved fund balance to expenditures ratio.
| Affton | 1.41 | 1.21 |
| Black Jack | 1.08 | 1.08 |
| Chesterfield | 1.68 | 1.68 |
| Community | 0.98 | 0.13 |
| Creve Coeur | 3.07 | 1.49 |
| Eureka | 0.58 | 0.58 |
| Fenton | 1.62 | 1.03 |
| Florissant Valley | 1.25 | 1.25 |
| Lemay | 0.51 | 0.51 |
| Maryland Heights | 2.52 | 2.49 |
| Mehlville | 1.60 | 1.16 |
| Metro West | 1.19 | 0.17 |
| Mid-County | 0.97 | 0.97 |
| Moline | 0.94 | 0.94 |
| Normandy | 1.60 | 1.18 |
| Pattonville/Bridgeton Terrace | 0.78 | 0.78 |
| Riverview | 1.30 | 0.26 |
| Robertson | 2.19 | 2.19 |
| Spanish Lake | 1.05 | 1.05 |
| Valley Park | 1.08 | 1.08 |
| West County EMS | 1.72 | 0.48 |
| West Overland | 1.19 | 1.19 |
Since property tax is the main source of revenue, and is received at the end of each year, districts need larger fund balances to provide an adequate cash flow. For those that have reserved a portion of their fund balance, the ratios have decreased; however, thirteen districts still have unreserved fund balances greater than one year's cost of operations. In addition, two districts have cash balances at year end that exceed total expenditures for the year. The fire districts must continue to evaluate the propriety of their tax levies to ensure that excess revenues are not being received and accumulated.
The Ambulance Fund in several districts had significant fund balances compared to expenditures. Ambulance Fund balances in total have increased by 18 percent over the past two years. Of the 18 districts with Ambulance Funds, ten had fund balance to expenditure ratios greater than 1.00. In addition to property tax revenues and interest, many districts collect ambulance fees or contract services fees. Approximately eight percent of total revenues in the Ambulance funds come from these fees.
Dispatching Fund balances in total have increased by 30 percent over the past two years. Of the 22 districts with Dispatch Funds, five had fund balance to expenditure ratios greater than 1.00 and three had ratios greater than 1.50. All of the districts contract dispatching services; however, some do purchase equipment from this fund.