Columbia County Board of Education, Evans, Georgia, report on audit of the financial statements for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION EVANS; GEORGIA REPORT ON AUDIT
OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30; 2007
STATE OF GEORGIA
DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTS
Russell W. Hinton State Auditor

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - TABLE OF CONTENTS -

SECTION I

FINANCIAL

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S COMBINED REPORT ON BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION - SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS

REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

EXHIBITS

BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

DISTRICT-WIDE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS

1

B

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

2

FUND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

C

BALANCE SHEET

GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS

4

D

RECONCILIATION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS BALANCE SHEET

TO THE STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS

5

E

STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES

IN FUND BALANCES

GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS

6

F

RECONCILIATION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS STATEMENT

OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND

BALANCES TO THE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES

7

G

STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS

PROPRIETARY FUNDS

8

H

STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENSES AND CHANGES

IN NET ASSETS

PROPRIETARY FUNDS

9

I

STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

PROPRIETARY FUNDS

10

J

STATEMENT OF FIDUCIARY NET ASSETS

FIDUCIARY FUNDS

11

K

NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

12

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - TABLE OF CONTENTS -

SECTION I
FINANCIAL
SCHEDULES
REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
1 SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES - BUDGET AND ACTUAL GENERAL FUND
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION
2 SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS 3 SCHEDULE OF STATE REVENUE 4 SCHEDULE OF APPROVED LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PROJECTS 5 ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES
GENERAL FUND - QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS (QBE) BY PROGRAM

Page
29 30 32 34 37

SECTION II
COMPLIANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROL REPORTS
REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ON COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS BASED ON AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS
REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EACH MAJOR PROGRAM AND ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 0MB CIRCULARA-133

SECTION III AUDITEE'S RESPONSE TO PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - TABLE OF CONTENTS -
SECTION IV FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

SECTION I FINANCIAL

RUSSELL W. HINTON
STATE AUDITOR
(404) 656-2174

DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTS
270 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 1-156 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-8400
December 17, 2007

Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor Members of the General Assembly Members of the State Board of Education
and Superintendent and Members of the Columbia County Board of Education
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S COMBINED REPORT ON BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION - SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have audited the accompanying financial statements ofthe governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information (Exhibits A through K) ofthe Columbia County Board of Education, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2007, which collectively comprise the Board's basic financial statements as listed in the table of contents. These financial statements are the responsibility ofthe Columbia County Board ofEducation's management. Our responsibility is to express opinions on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States ofAmerica and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General ofthe United States. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Columbia County Board of Education's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinions.

2007ARL-11

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position of the governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of the Columbia County Board of Education, as of June 30, 2007, and the respective changes in financial position and cash flows thereof for the year then ended in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
In accordance with Government Auditing Standards, we have also issued our report dated December 17, 2007, on our consideration of the Columbia County Board of Education's internal control over financial reporting and on our tests of its compliance with certain provisions of laws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements and other matters. The purpose ofthat report is to describe the scope of our testing of internal control over financial reporting and compliance and the results of that testing, and not to provide an opinion on the internal control over financial reporting or on compliance. That report is an integral part of an audit performed in accordance with Government Auditing Standards and should be considered in assessing the results of our audit.
Management's Discussion and Analysis and the Schedule ofRevenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances - Budget and Actual, as presented on pages i through x and page 29 respectively, are not a required part ofthe basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. We have applied certain limited procedures, which consisted principally of inquiries of management regarding the methods ofmeasurement and presentation ofthe required supplementary information. However, we did not audit the information and express no opinion on it.
Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming opinions on the financial statements that collectively comprise the Columbia County Board of Education's basic financial statements. The accompanying supplementary information which consist of Schedules 2 through 5, which includes the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards as required by U.S. Office of Management and Budget Circular A-133, Audits ofStates, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations, are presented for purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements. Such information has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of the basic financial statements, and in our opinion, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole.
A copy of this report has been filed as a permanent record in the office of the State Auditor and made available to the press of the State, as provided for by Official Code of Georgia Annotated section 50-6-24.
Respectfully submitted,
1~on~P~~ State Auditor
RWH:as 2007ARL-11

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007
The discussion and analysis of Columbia County School District's financial performance provides an overall review of the School District's financial activities for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. The intent of this discussion and analysis is to look at the School District's financial performance as a whole; readers should also review the notes to the basic financial statements and financial statements to enhance their understanding of the School District's financial performance.
Financial Highlights
Key financial highlights for 2006 - 2007 are as follows:
The Columbia County voters passed the third one percent sales tax for educational purposed for another five years (July, 2007 - June, 2012) along with approving the issuance of $30 million in short-term general obligation bonds on March 15, 2005.
The school system just completed an elementary school that opened this 2007 fall along with elementary classroom additions. A middle school is now in construction that will open in the fall of 2008 and a high school that is anticipated to open in the fall of 2009.
The school system this past fall (2006) changed the timing of when an employee would receive his/her first pay check for the school year. In the past a teacher received his/her first pay check for the contract year October 1st and the system accrued the July and August payroll payment at year end. Last fall existing teachers received two checks in August. One for the final payment of prior year contract and one to start the 2006 - 2007 year contract. This changed the cycle of a teacher receiving his/her first pay check from October 1st to September 1st therefore the system now only accrues one month of salaries vs. two months at year end.
The school system continues to grow with an average increase of 611 students per year over the last five years. Therefore, the school system continues to hire additional teachers and support staff to accommodate the growth.
Net assets increased $27 million, which represents an 18% increase from 2006. The total increase was due to governmental activities since the board has no business-type activities.
General revenues accounted for $89 million in revenue or 43% of all revenues. Program specific revenues in the form of charges for services, grants, and contributions accounted for $117.7 million or 57% of total revenues of $206.7 million.
The Board had $179.7 million in expenses related to governmental activities; only $117.7 million of these expenses were offset by program specific charges, grants, or contributions. General revenue (primarily property and sales taxes) of $89 million was adequate to provide for these programs.
Among major funds, the general fund had $181 million in revenues and $174.1 million in expenditures. The general fund balance increased from $25 .4 million to $28 million. The Board transferred funds from general fund to capital project funds to help fund the construction of new schools.
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Overview of the Financial Statements

This annual report consists of a series of financial statements and notes to those statements. These statements are organized so the reader can understand Columbia County School System as a financial whole, an entire operating entity.

Table 1 summarizes the major features of the School District's financial statements, including the portion of the School District's activities they cover and the types of information they contain.

Table 1 Major Features of the District-Wide and Fund Financial Statements

Figure I

Major Features of the District-Wide and Fund Financial Statements

District-wide

Fund Financial Statements

Statements

Government Funds Proprietary Funds

Fiduciary Funds

Scope

Entire School District The activities ofthe Activities the School Instances in which

(except fiduciary funds) School District that District operates

the School District

are not proprietary or similar to private

administers

fiduciary, such as

businesses: food

resources on behalf

special education

services and adult

of someone else,

and building

education

such as scholarship

maintenance

programs and

student activities

monies

Required

Statement of net

Balance sheet

Statement of net Statement of

financial

assets

assets

fiduciary net assets

statements

Statement of

Statement of activities revenues,

Statement of cash Statement of

expenditures, and

flows

changes in fiduciary

changes in fund

net assets

balances

Accounting Basis Accrual accounting and Modified accrual

Accrual accounting Accrual accounting

and measurement economic resources

accounting and

and economic

and economic

focus

focus

current financial

resources focus

resources focus

focus

Type of

All assets and liabilities, Generally assets

All assets and

All assets and

asset/liability

both financial and

expected to be used liabilities, both

liabilities, both

information

capital, short-term and up and liabilities that financial and capital, short-term and Jong-

Jong-term

come due during the and short-term and term; funds do not

year or soon

long-term

currently contain

thereafter; no capital

capital assets,

assets or long-term

although they can

liabilities included

Type of

All revenues and

Revenues for which All revenues and

All additions and

inflow/outflow

expenses during year,

cash is received

expenses during the deductions during

information

regardless of when cash during or soon after year, regardless of the year, regardless

is received or paid

the end ofthe year; when cash is

of when cash is

expenditures when received or paid

received or paid

goods or services

have been received

and the related

liability is due and

payable

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District-Wide Statements
The Statement of Net Assets and Statement of Activities provide information about the School District as a whole using accounting methods similar to industry. The increases and decreases in the School District's net assets are an indicator of whether the School District's financial position is improving or deteriorating. There are many factors that can affect the overall financial condition of the School District such as School District's property tax base, state and Federal funding, and the condition of buildings and equipment.
The Statement of Activities reflects the governmental activities of the School District by programs and services and distinguishes the revenue sources for these activities. The statement also helps identify how much local revenue is required to support the School District's activities.
Fund Financial Statements
Fund financial reports provide detailed information about the School District's major funds. Funds are accounting devices the School District uses to keep track of general operations, Federal and state grants, building programs, debt payments, and worker's compensation claims.
Governmental Funds: Most of the School District's activities are reported in governmental funds, which focus on how money flows into and out of those funds and balances left at year-end available for spending in the future periods. These funds are reported using modified accrual accounting, which measures cash and all other financial assets that can readily be converted to cash. The governmental fund statements provide a detailed short-term view of the School District's general government operations and the basic services it provides. Governmental fund information helps you determine whether there are more or fewer financial resources that can be spent in the near future to finance educational programs. The relationship (or differences) between governmental activities (reported in the Statement of Net Assets and the Statement of Activities) and governmental funds is reconciled in the financial statements. The School District's major governmental funds are the general fund, capital projects fund, and debt service fund.
Proprietary Funds: Services for which the School District charges a fee are generally reported in proprietary funds. Proprietary funds are reported in the same way as the District-wide statements. The School District's enterprise funds (one type of proprietary fund) are the same as its business-type activities but provide more detail and additional information, such as cash flows. The School District uses internal service funds (the other kind of proprietary fund) to report activities that provide supplies and services for other programs and activities. The School District's only internal fund is the worker's compensation fund.
Fiduciary Funds: The School District is the trustee, or fiduciary, for assets that belong to others, such as the scholarship fund and some of the student activity funds. The student activity funds are local school accounts the principal uses to collect funds for fieldtrips, school fundraisers, athletic events, and school clubs. The school clubs and fieldtrips are considered to be agency funds. The School District excludes these activities from the District-wide statements because it cannot use these assets to finance its operations.
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The School District as a Whole

The perspective of the statement of net assets is of the School District as a whole. Table 2 provides a summary of the School District's net assets for 2006 compared to 2007.

Table 2 Net Assets

Governmental Activities

Fiscal

Fiscal

Year 2007

Year 2006

Assets Current and Other Assets Capital Assets, Net

$ 62,085,931 $ 67,116,657

173,315,310

154,232,225

Total Assets

$ 235,401,241 $ 221,348,882

Liabilities Current and Other Liabilities Long-Term Liabilities

$ 16,238,335 $ 22,788,458

39,126,874

45,511,915

Total Liabilities

$ 55,365,209 $ 68,300,373

Net Assets Invested in Capital Assets, Net of Related Debt Restricted Unrestricted

$ 136,888,666 18,971,735 24,175,631

$ 113,369,209 17,207,829 22,471,471

Total Net Assets

$ 180,036,032 $ 153,048.509

Total assets of governmental activities increased by $14,052,359 as cash and cash equivalents decreased by $4,690,751 investments decreased by $1,972,090 receivables increased by $1,546,050 and capital assets increased by $19,083,085. Unrestricted net assets, the part of net assets that can be used to finance day-to-day activities without constraints established by grants or legal requirements, of the School District increased by $1,704,160.

Table 3 shows the changes in net assets for fiscal year 2006 compared to 2007.

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Table 3 Change in Net Assets

Revenues Program Revenues: Charges for Services and Sales Operating Grants and Contributions Capital Grants and Contributions

Governmental Activities

Fiscal

Fiscal

Year2007

Year2006 % Change

$ 8,819,984 $ 7,870,825

102,547,330 89,242,917

6,321.425

4,667.832

12.06% 14.91% 35.43%

Total Program Revenues

$ 117.688.739 $ 101,781.574 15.63%

General Revenues:

Truces

Property Truces

$ 55,297,183 $ 48,669,160

Sales Truces

19,387,632

17,499,239

Grants and Contributions not Restricted

to Specific Programs

7,852,247

7,397,266

Investment Earnings

2,792,865

2,471,130

Miscellaneous

1,668,878

1,799,302

Special Item

Gain on Sale of Property

2,081.740

13.62% 10.79%
6.15% 13.02% -7.25%
100.00%

Total General Revenues and Special Item $ 89,080.545 $ 77.836.097 14.45%

Total Revenues

$ 206.769.284 $ 179,617.671 15.12%

Program Expenses Instruction Support Services Pupil Services Improvement of Instructional Services Educational Media Services General Administration School Administration Business Administration Maintenance and Operation of Plant Student Transportation Services Central Support Services Other Support Services
Operations of Non-Instructional Services Enterprise Operations Community Services Food Services
Interest on Short-Term and Long-Term Debt

$ 121,213,301
3,305,777 3,985,889 3,857,794 1,316,029 11,204,665 1,213,545 12,385,186 7,461,322
920,703 46,268
3,503,453 5,027
7,408,677 1,954.125

$ 105,883,530
3,161,734 3,279,966 3,489,952 1,295,290 9,799,557 1,090,600 10,641,116 6,655,188
724,767 55,279
4,405,868 147,339
7,318,263 2,188.618

14.48%
4.56% 21.52% 10.54%
1.60% 14.34% 11.27% 16.39% 12.11% 27.03% -16.30%
-20.48% -96.59%
1.24% -10.71%

Total Expenses

$ 179.781.761 $ 160,137.067 12.27%

Increase in Net Assets

$ 26,987.523 $ 19,480,604 38.54%

Governmental Activities

Instruction comprises 67% of governmental program expenses. Support service expenses make up 25% of the expenses. Interest expense was 1%. Interest expense was attributable to the outstanding bonds for capital projects.

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The state's QBE funding does not provide an adequate level of funding to provide basic education services and to adequately maintain facilities. The school system levies a millage rate of 17.18 to provide the additional local funding along with a 1% (SPLOST) sales tax.

The Statement of Activities shows the cost of program services and the changes for services and grants offsetting those services. Table 4 shows, for governmental activities, the total cost of services and the net cost of services. It identifies the cost of these services supported by tax revenue and unrestricted State entitlements.

Table4 Governmental Activities

Total Cost of Services

Fiscal

Fiscal

Year 2007 Year 2006

Net Cost of Services

Fiscal

Fiscal

Year 2007 Year 2006

Instruction

$121,213,301 $105,883,530 $ 39,549,686 $ 36,223,765

Support Services

Pupil Services

3,305,777 3,161,734 2,246,824 2,052,450

Improvement of Instructional Services

3,985,889 3,279,966 2,297,980 2,063,119

Educational Media Services

3,857,794 3,489,952

958,558 1,192,550

General Administration

1,316,029 1,295,290 -1,279,742 -1,134,113

School Administration

11,204,665 9,799,557 5,842,998 5,189,940

Business Administration

1,213,545 1,090,600 1,192,812 1,065,986

Maintenance and Operation ofPlant

12,385,186 10,641,116 5,614,505 4,039,753

Student Transportation Services

7,461,322 6,655,188 4,303,968 4,044,300

Central Support Services

920,703

724,767

908,869

661,728

Other Support Services

46,268

55,279

-297

54,221

Operations ofNon-Instructional Services

Enterprise Operations

3,503,453 4,405,868 -989,719

345,784

Community Services

5,027

147,339

5,027

42,364

Food Services

7,408,677 7,318,263 -512,572

325,028

Interest on Short-Term and Long-Term Debt 1.954.125 2.188.618 1,954.125 2.188.618

Total Expenses

$179.781.761 $160.137.067 $ 62,093.022 $ 58,355.493

Instructional expenses include activities directly dealing with the teaching of pupils and the interaction between teacher and pupil.

Pupil Services are activities designed to assess and improve the well being of students and to supplement the teaching process.

Improvement of instruction are activities which are designed primarily for assisting instructional staff in planning, developing, and evaluating the process of providing challenging learning experiences for students.

Educational media is directing, managing, and operating educational media centers.

General administration establishes and administers policy for operating the local school system.

School administration includes principals, assistant principals, and clerical staff who administer the school operations.

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Business administration includes the financial and warehouse operations of the School District.
Maintenance and operation of plant activities involve keeping the school grounds, buildings, and equipment in an effective working condition.
Student transportation includes activities involved with the conveyance of students to and from school, as well as to and from school activities, as provided by state law.
Central support includes personnel services, strategic planning, and public relations activities.
Other support services include all other support services.
Community services are student activity accounts used to collect money from students for various fundraisers for the school. The proceeds are spent on media center materials, instructional supplies, and other school needed supplies.
Food services prepares and serves breakfast, lunch, and snacks to the students of the school system.
Interest involves the transactions associated with the payment of interest related to the school system's outstanding bonds.
Although program revenues make up a majority of the revenue, the School District is still dependent upon tax revenues for governmental activities. Over 33% of instructional activities are supported through taxes and other general revenues; for all governmental activities general revenue support is 35%.
The School District's Funds
The School District's governmental funds are accounted for using the modified accrual basis of accounting. All governmental funds had total revenues of $204,428,541 and expenditures of $207,767,539. The net change in fund balance for the year was significant in the general fund and the capital projects funds, which had an increase of $2,683,419 and a decrease of $819,056, respectively.
The general fund operations increase was due to increase in interest rates, intangible taxes collected, and the school nutrition program revenues. The decrease in capital projects was due to the use of resources to complete an elementary and middle school and other various capital projects.
General Fund Budgeting Highlights
The School District's budget is prepared according to Georgia law. The most significant budgeted fund is the general fund. The general fund consists of the general operations, special revenue grants, and school nutrition program.
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During 2007 the School District amended its general fund budget numerous times, which resulted in increasing revenue budget by $2.1 million or 1.2% and increasing expenditure budget by $1.3 million or .75%. The increase in the revenue budget is due to amending the budget for the final tax digest and Federal and state grants. The original revenue and expenditure budgets only reflect the anticipated funding for Federal and state grants and are amended to reflect the final award. The School District uses site-based budgeting and the budgeting systems are designed to tightly control total site budgets but to provide flexibility for site management.

The majority of the variances between the final budget and actual revenue in 2007 are due to the student activity funds of $4.8 million that are not budgeted; increase of intangible and real taxes of $1.2 million; on behalf payments for health and retirement of $2.6 million not budgeted; increase in QBE accounts receivable of $1.5 million not budgeted; and an increase in interest earnings of $900,000. The variances between the final budgeted expenditures and actual are due to over estimates in various areas; on behalf payments for health and retirement not budgeted; and the school system does not currently budget for the $4.6 million in student activity funds. This explains the major differences in final budget for revenue ($11.6 million increase) and expenditures ($6.1 million increase) vs. the actual amounts for general fund.

Capital Assets

At the end of the fiscal year 2007, the School District had $173,315,310 invested in land, construction in progress, buildings, equipment, and buses.

Table 5 shows fiscal year 2007 balances compared to 2006.

Table 5 Capital Assets (Net of Depreciation)

Governmental Activities

Fiscal

Fiscal

Year 2007

Year 2006

Land Construction in Progress Buildings and Building Improvements Equipment Land Improvements

$ 7,018,737 24,706,524 126,878,969 14,106,467 604,613

$ 5,701,957 16,299,121
118,284,712 13,383,460 562,975

Total

$ 173!315!310 $ 154!232!225

Overall capital assets increased $19,083,085 from fiscal year 2006 to fiscal year 2007. Increases in capital assets (buildings and building improvements, equipment, and land improvements) were offset by depreciation expense for the year.

The increase in construction in progress/increase in buildings was due to the completion of a new elementary and middle school; current construction of a new middle school and high school; and other various small projects within the school system.

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Most of the equipment purchased during fiscal year 2007 was for classroom computers and network equipment for the schools and departments.

Debt

At June 30, 2007 the School District had $38.5 million in general obligation bonds outstanding with $6.9 million due within one year.

The voters of Columbia County approved on March 18, 1997, the first one percent sales tax for educational purposes for five years (July, 1997 - June, 2002). On March 20, 2001, the voters approved the second one percent sales tax for educational purposes for another five years (July, 2002 - June, 2007). On March 15, 2005, the voters approved the third one percent sales tax for educational purposes for another five years (July, 2007 - June, 2012) along with approving $30 million in short-term bonds which $15 million has been issued. The School Board no longer levies a debt millage, instead the proceeds from the sales tax are used to pay the debt. Table 6 summarizes general obligation bonds and compensated absences outstanding.

Table 6 Outstanding Debt and Compensated Absences at June 30

Fiscal Year 2007

Fiscal Year2006

Compensated Absences General Obligation Bonds

$ 596,874 $ 491,915

38,530,000

45,020,000

Total

$ 39!126!874 $ 45!511!215

Current Financial Issues and Concerns

The Columbia County School District is financially stable. The School District reduced the millage from 17.18 to 17.09 for school year 2007 - 2008, which produces approximately $3 .6 million per mill. The tax digest has continued to grow at an average rate of 10.46% over the last five years. The residential community is continuing to grow increasing the tax digest at a steady rate. The Columbia County Tax Commissioner's office collects taxes for the School District and the average collection rate has been 98% over the last five years. The School District does not anticipate any significant changes in the local tax digest in the immediate future.

The School District continues to grow with an average increase of 611 students per year over the last five years. The School District plans to construct additional schools in the next several years to accommodate the growth and reduce portable classrooms at various schools. The School District plans to fund the additional capital outlays with the one percent local sales tax revenue, general obligation bonds, and state capital outlay grants.

The Quality Basic Education Act (QBE) was enacted into law by the 1985 session of the Georgia General Assembly. The Act set out the provisions for educational funding for grades

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kindergarten through twelve in the State of Georgia. The funding is based on student counts with the expectation that local School Districts fund part of the cost with local tax monies. The School District received approximately 53% of the revenues budgeted for the General Fund from QBE. The School District received $2,173,211 less in funding for 2007. The reductions in QBE funding were due to the economic downturn in the State and the QBE funding for 2008 was reduced by $1,811,943. Currently, the School District has adequate reserves for 2008 to handle the reduction in QBE funding. Contacting the Board's Financial Management This financial report is designed to provide our citizens, taxpayers, investors and creditors with a general overview of the School District's finances and to show the School District's accountability for the money it receives. If you have questions about this report or need additional financial information contact Pat Sullivan, Controller at Columbia County Board of Education, 4781 Hereford Farm Road, Evans, Georgia 30809 or email at psullivan@ccboe.net.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS JUNE 30, 2007
ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments Accounts Receivable, Net
Taxes State Government Federal Government Other Prepaid Items Inventories Capital Assets Land Construction in Progress Land Improvements Buildings Equipment Less: Accumulated Depreciation
Total Assets
LIABILITIES
Accounts Payable Salary and Benefits Payable Contracts Payable Retainages Payable Long-Term Liabilities
Due Within One Year Due in More Than One Year
Total Liabilities
NET ASSETS
Invested in Capital Assets, Net of Related Debt Restricted for
Continuation of Federal Programs Debt Service Capital Projects Unrestricted
Total Net Assets
Total Liabilities and Net Assets
The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -1-

EXHIBIT"A"

GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES

$

11,627,129

33,434,481

3,855,686 12,442,015
505,613 14,006 22,996
184,005

7,018,737 24,706,524
857,043 169,077,010
34,951,518 -63,295,522

$ ===23=5:!:,4=0=1=,2=41=

$

1,409,126

10,247,094

3,067,970

1,514,145

6,885,000 32 241 874

$

55,365,209

$

136,888,666

1,449,514 4,215,992 13,306,229 24 175 631

$

180,036,032

$ ===23=5"",4=0==l1,=24=1a=

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES
FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES
Instruction Support Services
Pupil Services Improvement of Instructional Services Educational Media Services General Administration School Administration Business Administration Maintenance and Operation of Plant Student Transportation Services Central Support Services Other Support Services Operations of Non-Instructional Services Enterprise Operations Community Services Food Services Interest on Short-Term and Long-Term Debt
Total Governmental Activities
General Revenues Taxes Property Taxes For Maintenance and Operations For Debt Services Sales Taxes Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax For Debt Services For Capital Projects Intangible Recording Tax Real Estate Grants and Contributions not Restricted to Specific Programs Investment Earnings Miscellaneous
Special Item Gain on Sale of Property
Total General Revenues and Special Item
Change in Net Assets
Net Assets - Beginning of Year
Net Assets - End of Year

EXPENSES

CHARGES FOR SERVICES

$

121,213,301 $

3,305,777 3,985,889 3,857,794 1,316,029 11,204,665 1,213,545 12,385,186 7,461,322
920,703 46,268

3,503,453 5,027
7,408,677 1 954 125

$

179 781 761 $

99,548
4,475,528 4,244,908 8,819,984

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -2-

EXHIBIT"B"

PROGRAM REVENUES

OPERATING

CAPITAL

GRANTS AND

GRANTS AND

CONTRIBUTIONS CONTRIBUTIONS

NET (EXPENSES) REVENUES
AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS

$

76,519,276 $

1,058,953 1,687,909 2,612,600 2,595,771 5,132,358
20,733 6,770,681 2,568,647
11,834 46,565

17,644

3,504,359

$

102,547,330 $

5,044,791 $ 286,636 229,309 588,707
171,982 6,321,425 $

-39,549,686
-2,246,824 -2,297,980
-958,558 1,279,742 -5,842,998 -1,192,812 -5,614,505 -4,303,968 -908,869
297
989,719 -5,027
512,572 -1 954 125
-62,093,022

$

55,297,161

22

7,810,287 9,066,952 1,928,649
581,744 7,852,247 2,792,865 1,668,878

2 081 740

$

89,080,545

$

26,987,523

153,048,509

$ ===1=80:!'=03=6=,0=32=

-3-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BALANCE SHEET
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"C"

ASSETS
Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments Accounts Receivable, Net
Taxes State Government Federal Government Other Prepaid Items Inventories

GENERAL FUND

DISTRICTWIDE
CAPITAL PROJECTS
FUND

DEBT SERVICE
FUND

TOTAL

$ 6,219,343 $ 4,288,464 $

18,827,889

14,579,137

963,324 12,442,015
505,613 13,098 22,996
184,005

2,892,362

316,918 $ 27,455

10,824,725 33,434,481
3,855,686 12,442,015
505,613 13,098 22,996
184 005

Total Assets

$ 39,178,283 $ 21,759,963 $

344,373 $ ===6=1=,2=8=12,=61=9=

LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES

LIABILITIES

Accounts Payable Salary and Benefits Payable Contracts Payable Retainages Payable

$

857,372

10,247,094

$

3,067,970 1,514,145

Total Liabilities

$ 11,104,466 $ 4,582,115

FUND BALANCES

Reserved for: Continuation of Federal Programs Debt Service Inventories Capital Projects
Unreserved Designated for Student Activities Undesignated Reported in: General Fund

$ 1,265,509 $ 3,871,619 $
184,005 13,306,229
1,798,687
24,825,616

Total Fund Balances

$ 28,073,817 $ 17,177,848 $

$ $ $ 344,373
344 373 $

857,372 10,247,094 3,067,970
1 514 145
15,686,581
1,265,509 4,215,992
184,005 13,306,229
1,798,687
24,825,616
45,596,038

Total Liabilities and Fund Balances

$ 39,178,283 $ 21,759,963 $

344,373 $ ===6;;.1;,,i:,2:.;;8;;;,2a,;;;,6,:,,;19=

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -4-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RECONCILIATION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS BALANCE SHEET
TO THE STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"D"

Total Fund Balances - Governmental Funds (Exhibit "C")
Amounts reported for Governmental Activities in the Statement of Net Assets are different because:
Capital Assets used in Governmental Activities are not financial resources and therefore are not reported in the funds. These assets consist of:
Land Construction in Progress Land Improvements Buildings Equipment Accumulated Depreciation
Total Capital Assets
An Internal Service Fund is used by the School District's management to account for the workers' compensation risk financing related activities. The assets and liabilities of the Internal Service Fund are reported with governmental activities.
Long-Term Liabilities, including Bonds Payable, are not due and payable in the current period and therefore are not reported as liabilities in the funds. Long-Term Liabilities at year-end consist of:
Bonds Payable Compensated Absences
Total Long-Term Liabilities

$ 45,596,038

$ 7,018,737 24,706,524 857,043 169,077,010 34,951,518 -63,295,522

173,315,310

251,558

$ -38,530,000 -596,874

-39,126,874

Net Assets of Governmental Activities (Exhibit "A")

$ 180,036,032

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -5-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES
GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"E"

REVENUES
Property Taxes Sales Taxes State Funds Federal Funds Charges for Services Investment Earnings Miscellaneous
Total Revenues
EXPENDITURES
Current Instruction Support Services Pupil Services Improvement of Instructional Services Educational Media Services General Administration School Administration Business Administration Maintenance and Operation of Plant Student Transportation Services Central Support Services Other Support Services Enterprise Operations Food Services Operation
Capital Outlay Debt Services
Principal Interest
Total Expenditures
Excess of Revenues over (under) Expenditures
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES {USES)
Transfers In Transfers Out Special Item
Proceeds from Sale of Property
Total Other Financing Sources (Uses)
Net Change in Fund Balances
Fund Balances - Beginning

GENERAL FUND

DISTRICTWIDE
CAPITAL PROJECTS
FUND

DEBT SERVICE
FUND

TOTAL

$ 54,765,296 2,510,393 $
102,074,711 9,146,785 8,819,984 1,946,353 1,756,602

$ 9,066,952 5,732,717
787,666

16 $ 7,810,287
10,779

54,765,312 19,387,632 107,807,428 9,146,785 8,819,984 2,744,798 1,756,602

$ 181,020,124 $ 15,587,335 $ 7,821,082 $ 204,428,541

$ 117,156,046 $

126,258

$ 117,282,304

3,293,805 3,996,305 3,845,222 1,110,135 11,239,730 1,190,249 12,403,595 7,699,282
911,645 48,346 3,584,564 7,654,281

11,755 18,775 141,852 34,109
$ 38,855 446,870 5,110
1,410 24,360,572

4,643

3,293,805 4,008,060 3,863,997 1,251,987 11,273,839 1,194,892 12,442,450 8,146,152
916,755 48,346 3,584,564 7,655,691 24,360,572

6,490,000 1,954,125

6,490,000 1,954,125

$ 174,133,205 $ 25,185,566 $ 8,448,768 $ 207,767,539

$ 6,886,919 $ -9,598,231 $ -627,686 $ -3,338,998

$ 4,203,500 $ -4,203,500

4,575,675

$ -4,203,500 $ 8 779 175

$ 2,683,419 $ -819,056 $

25,390,398

17,996,904

$
$ -627,686 $ 972,059

4,203,500 -4,203,500 4,575,675 4,575,675 1,236,677 44,359,361

Fund Balances - Ending

$ 28,073,817 $ 17,177,848 $ 344 373 $ 45,596,038

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -6-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RECONCILIATION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS STATEMENT OF
REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES TO THE STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"F"

Total Net Change in Fund Balances - Governmental Funds (Exhibit "E")
Amounts reported for Governmental Activities in the Statement of Activities are different because:
Capital Outlays are reported as expenditures in Governmental Funds. However, in the Statement of Activities, the cost of Capital Assets is allocated over their estimated useful lives as depreciation expense. In the current period, these amounts are:
Capital Outlay Depreciation Expense
Excess of Capital Outlay over Depreciation Expense
Because some property taxes will not be collected for several months after the School District's fiscal year ends, they are not considered "available" revenues.
In the Statement of Activities, only the gain on the sale of the land, building and equipment is reported, whereas in the Governmental Funds, the entire proceeds from the sale increase financial resources. Thus, the change in net assets differs from the change in fund balances by the carrying value of the land, building and equipment sold.
Repayment of Long-Term Debt is reported as an expenditure in Governmental Funds, but the repayment reduces Long-Term Liabilities in the Statement of Net Assets. In the current year, these amounts consist of:
Bond Principal Retirements
Some items reported in the Statement of Activities do not require the use of current financial resources and therefore are not reported as expenditures in Governmental Funds. These activities consist of:
Increase in Compensated Absences
An Internal Service Fund is used by the School District's management to account for the workers' compensation risk financing related activities. The net revenue of the Internal Service Fund is reported with governmental activities.

$ 1,236,677

$ 28,874,461 -7,255,057

21,619,404

280,882

-2,536,319

6,490,000 -104,959 1 838

Change in Net Assets of Governmental Activities (Exhibit "B")

$ 26,987,523

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -7-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS PROPRIETARY FUNDS JUNE 30, 2007
ASSETS Current Assets
Cash and Cash Equivalents Accounts Receivable, Net
Other
Total Assets
LIABILITIES Current Liabilities
Accounts Payable NET ASSETS
Unrestricted
Total Liabilities and Net Assets

EXHIBIT"G"

INTERNAL SERVICE FUND

$

802,404

908

$ ======8=03===31=2=

$

551,754

251 558

$ ======8=03='=31=2=

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -8-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENSES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS
PROPRIETARY FUNDS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"H"

OPERATING REVENUES Charges for Services
OPERATING EXPENSES Contractual Services Insurance Claims and Expenses Total Operating Expenses Operating Loss
NONOPERATING REVENUES Interest and Investment Revenue Changes in Net Assets
Total Net Assets - Beginning
Total Net Assets - Ending

INTERNAL SERVICE FUND

$

407,224

$

224,869

228,584

$

453,453

$

-46,229

48067

$

1,838

249,720

$ =====2=5=1,=55..,8=

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -9-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS PROPRIETARY FUNDS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Cash Received from Charges for Services Cash Paid for Excess Worker's Compensation Insurance Cash Paid for Other Purchased Services Cash Paid for Worker's Compensation Claims Net Cash Used by Operating Activities
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES Interest and Dividends
Net Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents Balances - Beginning of Year
Balances - End of Year
RECONCILIATION OF OPERATING LOSS TO NET CASH USED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Operating Loss Change in Net Assets and Liabilities
Receivables, Net Accounts and Other Payables
Net Cash (Used) By Operating Activities

EXHIBIT"!"

INTERNAL SERVICE FUND

$

406,816

-58,814

-166,055

-315,261

$

-133314

$

48 067

$

-85,247

887,651

$ =======8=02::!,,4.,.0=4=

$

-46,229

$ ===-1.3..3='=31=4=

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement.
- 10 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF FIDUCIARY NET ASSETS FIDUCIARY FUNDS JUNE 30, 2007
ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents
LIABILITIES Funds Held for Others

EXHIBIT"J"
AGENCY FUNDS
$ =====62=6==,4=99=
$ =====62=6==.4=99=

The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. - 11 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 1: DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT AND REPORTING ENTITY
REPORTING ENTITY
The Columbia County Board of Education (School District) was established under the laws ofthe State of Georgia and operates under the guidance of a school board elected by the voters and a Superintendent appointed by the Board. The Board is organized as a separate legal entity and has the power to levy taxes and issue bonds. Its budget is not subject to approval by any other entity. Accordingly, the School District is a primary government and consists ofall the organizations that compose its legal entity.
Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
The School District's basic financial statements are collectively comprised of the District-wide financial statements, fund financial statements and notes to the basic financial statements of the Columbia County Board of Education.
District-wide Statements: The Statement ofNet Assets and the Statement ofActivities display information about the financial activities ofthe overall School District, except for fiduciary activities. Eliminations have been made to minimize the double counting ofinternal activities. Governmental activities generally are financed through taxes, intergovernmental revenues, and other nonexchange transactions.
The Statement ofActivities presents a comparison between direct expenses and program revenues for each function of the School District's governmental activities.
Direct expenses are those that are specifically associated with a program or function and, therefore, are clearly identifiable to a particular function. Indirect expenses (expenses of the School District related to the administration and support ofthe School District's programs, such as office and maintenance personnel and accounting) are not allocated to programs.
Program revenues include (a) charges paid by the recipients ofgoods or services offered by the programs and (b) grants and contributions that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital requirements of a particular program. Revenues that are not classified as program revenues, including all taxes, are presented as general revenues.
Fund Financial Statements: The fund financial statements provide information about the School District's funds, including fiduciary funds. Eliminations have been made to minimize the double counting ofinternal activities. Separate statements for each category (governmental, proprietary, and fiduciary) are presented. The emphasis of fund financial statements is on major governmental funds, each displayed in a separate column.
- 12 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The School District reports the following major governmental funds:
General Fund is the School District's primary operating fund. It accounts for all financial resources ofthe School District, except those resources required to be accounted for in another fund.
District-wide Capital Projects Fund accounts for financial resources including Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), Bond Proceeds and grants from Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission to be used for the acquisition, construction or renovation ofmajor capital facilities.
Debt Service Fund accounts for taxes (property and sales) legally restricted for the payment of general long-term principal, interest and paying agent's fees.
Proprietary fund operating revenues, such as charges for services, result from exchange transactions associated with the principal activity of the fund. Exchange transactions are those in which each party receives and gives up essentially equal values. Nonoperating revenues, such as subsidies and investment earnings, result from nonexchange transactions or from ancillary activities. Enterprise fund operating revenues are related to charges for workers' compensation risk financing related activities. The primary nonoperating revenues are interest and investment revenues.
Principal operating expenses are the costs of providing goods or services and include contractual services and insurance claims and expenses.
The School District reports the following major proprietary fund:
Internal Service Fund - the fund used to account for the School District's workers' compensation risk financing related activities.
The School District reports the following fiduciary fund type:
Agency funds account for assets held by the School District as an agent for various funds, governments or individuals.
BASIS OF ACCOUNTING
The basis ofaccounting determines when transactions are reported on the financial statements. The District-wide governmental, proprietary and fiduciary fund financial statements are reported using the economic resources measurement focus and the accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are recorded at the time liabilities are incurred, regardless of when the related cash flows take place. Nonexchange transactions, in which the School District gives (or receives) value without directly receiving (or giving) equal value in exchange, include property taxes, sales taxes, grants and donations. On an accrual basis, revenue from property taxes is
- 13 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
recognized in the fiscal year for which the taxes are levied. Revenue from sales taxes is recognized in the fiscal year in which the underlying transaction (sale) takes place. Revenue from grants and donations is recognized in the fiscal year in which all eligibility requirements have been satisfied.
The School District uses funds to report on its financial position and the results of its operations. Fund accounting is designed to demonstrate legal compliance and to aid financial management by segregating transactions related to certain governmental functions or activities. A fund is a separate accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts.
Governmental funds are reported using the current financial resources measurement focus and the modified accrual basis ofaccounting. Under this method, revenues are recognized when measurable and available. The School District considers all revenues reported in the governmental funds to be available if they are collected within sixty days after year-end. Property taxes, sales taxes and interest are considered to be susceptible to accrual. Expenditures are recorded when the related fund liability is incurred, except for principal and interest on general long-term debt, claims and judgments, and compensated absences, which are recognized as expenditures to the extent they have matured. Capital asset acquisitions are reported as expenditures in governmental funds. Proceeds of general long-term liabilities and acquisitions under capital leases are reported as other financing sources.
The School District funds certain programs by a combination ofspecific cost-reimbursement grants, categorical grants, and general revenues. Thus, when program costs are incurred, there are both restricted and unrestricted net assets available to finance the program. It is the School District's policy to first apply grant resources to such programs, followed by cost-reimbursement grants, then general revenues.
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
COMPOSITION OF DEPOSITS Cash and cash equivalents consist ofcash on hand, demand deposits and short-term investments with original maturities of three months or less from the date of acquisition in authorized financial institutions. Official Code of Georgia Annotated Section 45-8-14 authorize the School District to deposit its funds in one or more solvent banks or insured Federal savings and loan associations.
INVESTMENTS
COMPOSITION OF INVESTMENTS Investments made by the School District in nonparticipating interest-earning contracts (such as certificates ofdeposit) and repurchase agreements are reported at cost. Participating interest-earning contracts and money market investments with a maturity at purchase ofone year or less are reported at amortized cost. Both participating interest-earning contracts and money market investments with a maturity at purchase greater than one year are reported at fair value. The Official Code ofGeorgia Annotated Section 36-83-4 authorizes the School District to invest its funds. In selecting among
- 14 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
options for investment or among institutional bids for deposits, the highest rate ofreturn shall be the objective, given equivalent conditions of safety and liquidity. Funds may be invested in the following:
(1) Obligations issued by the State of Georgia or by other states,
(2) Obligations issued by the United States government,
(3) Obligations fully insured or guaranteed by the United States government or a United States government agency,
(4) Obligations of any corporation of the United States government,
(5) Prime banker's acceptances,
(6) The Local Government Investment Pool administered by the State of Georgia, Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services,
(7) Repurchase agreements, and
(8) Obligations of other political subdivisions of the State of Georgia.
The School District does not have a formal policy regarding investment policies that address credit risks, custodial credit risks, concentration ofcredit risks, interest rate risks or foreign currency risks.
RECEIVABLES
Receivables consist of amounts due from property and sales taxes, grant reimbursements due on Federal, State or other grants for expenditures made but not reimbursed and other receivables disclosed from information available. Receivables are recorded when either the asset or revenue recognition criteria has been met. Receivables recorded on the basic financial statements do not include any amounts which would necessitate the need for an allowance for uncollectible receivables.
PROPERTY TAXES
The Columbia County Board ofCommissioners fixed the property tax levy for the 2006 tax digest year (calendar year) on July 18, 2006 (levy date). Taxes were due on November 15, 2006 (lien date). Taxes collected within the current fiscal year or within 60 days after year-end on the 2006 tax digest are reported as revenue in the governmental funds for fiscal year 2007. The Columbia County Tax Commissioner bills and collects the property taxes for the School District, withholds 2.5% of taxes collected as a fee for tax collection and remits the balance of taxes collected to the School

- 15 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

District. Property tax revenues, at the fund reporting level, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, for maintenance and operations amounted to $54,765,296 and for school bonds amounted to $16.

The tax millage rate levied for the 2006 tax year (calendar year) for the Columbia County Board of Education was as follows (a mill equals $1 per thousand dollars of assessed value):

School Operations

17.18 mills

SALES TAXES

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, at the fund reporting level, during the year amounted to $16,877,239 and is to be used for capital outlay for educational purposes or debt service. This sales tax was authorized by local referendum and the sales tax must be re-authorized at least every five years.

INVENTORIES

FOOD INVENTORIES On the basic financial statements, inventories ofdonated food commodities used in the preparation ofmeals are reported at their Federally assigned value and purchased foods inventories are reported at cost (first-in, first-out). The School District uses the consumption method to account for inventories whereby donated food commodities are recorded as an asset and as revenue when received, and expenses/expenditures are recorded as the inventory items are used. Purchased foods are recorded as an asset when purchased and expenses/expenditures are recorded as the inventory items are used.

PREPAID ITEMS

Payments made to vendors for services that will benefit periods subsequent to June 30, 2007, are recorded as prepaid items.

CAPITAL ASSETS

Capital assets purchased, including capital outlay costs, are recorded as expenditures in the fund financial statements at the time of purchase (including ancillary charges). On the District-wide financial statements, all purchased capital assets are valued at cost where historical records are available and at estimated historical cost based on appraisals or deflated current replacement cost where no historical records exist. Donated capital assets are recorded at estimated fair market value on the date donated. Disposals are deleted at depreciated recorded cost. The cost of normal maintenance and repairs that do not add to the value ofassets or materially extend the useful lives of the assets is not capitalized. Depreciation is computed using the straight-line method. The School District does not capitalize book collections or works of art.

- 16 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Capitalization thresholds and estimated useful lives of capital assets reported in the District-wide statements are as follows:

Land Land Improvements Buildings and Improvements Computers, Televisions, Laser Disk Players,
Digital Cameras and Video Cameras Monitors, Printers, Scanners and Band Equipment All Other Equipment

Capitalization Policy

$

1,000

$

1,000

$

1,000

All

$

100

$

1,000

Estimated Useful Life
NIA 10 to 20 years
50 years
5 to 8 years 5 to 15 years 5 to 15 years

Depreciation is used to allocate the actual or estimated historical cost of all capital assets over estimated useful lives.

GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS

The School District issues general obligation bonds to provide funds for the acquisition and construction of major capital facilities. Bond issuance costs are recognized in the financial statements during the fiscal year bonds are issued. In addition, general obligation bonds have been issued to refund existing general obligation bonds. General obligation bonds are direct obligations and pledge the full faith and credit of the government. The outstanding amount of these bonds is recorded in the Statement of Net Assets.

NET ASSETS

The School District's net assets in the District-wide Statements are classified as follows:

Invested in capital assets, net of related debt - This represents the School District's total investment in capital assets, net ofoutstanding debt obligations related to those capital assets. To the extent debt has been incurred but not yet expended for capital assets, such amounts are not included as a component of invested in capital assets, net of related debt.

Restricted net assets - These represent resources for which the School District is legally or contractually obligated to spend resources for bus replacement, continuation of Federal programs, debt service and capital projects in accordance with restrictions imposed by external third parties.

Unrestricted net assets - Unrestricted net assets represent resources derived from property taxes, sales taxes, grants and contributions not restricted to specific programs, charges for services, and miscellaneous revenues. These resources are used for transactions relating to the educational and general operations of the School District, and may be used at the discretion of the Board to meet current expenses for those purposes.

- 17 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 3: DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS
COLLATERALIZATION OF DEPOSITS Official Code of Georgia Annotated (OCGA) Section 45-8-12 provides that there shall not be on deposit at any time in any depository for a time longer than ten days a sum ofmoney which has not been secured by surety bond, by guarantee of insurance, or by collateral. The aggregate ofthe face value ofsuch surety bond and the market value of securities pledged shall be equal to not less than 110 percent ofthe public funds being secured after the deduction ofthe amount ofdeposit insurance. Ifa depository elects the pooled method (OCGA 45-8-13 .1) the aggregate ofthe market value ofthe securities pledged to secure a pool ofpublic funds shall be not less than 110 percent ofthe daily pool balance.
Acceptable security for deposits consists of any one of or any combination of the following:
(1) Surety bond signed by a surety company duly qualified and authorized to transact business within the State of Georgia,
(2) Insurance on accounts provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
(3) Bonds, bills, notes, certificates of indebtedness or other direct obligations of the United States or of the State of Georgia,
(4) Bonds, bills, notes, certificates of indebtedness or other obligations of the counties or municipalities of the State of Georgia,
(5) Bonds of any public authority created by the laws of the State of Georgia, providing that the statute that created the authority authorized the use of the bonds for this purpose,
(6) Industrial revenue bonds and bonds of development authorities created by the laws ofthe State of Georgia, and
(7) Bonds, bills, notes, certificates of indebtedness, or other obligations of a subsidiary corporation of the United States government, which are fully guaranteed by the United States government both as to principal and interest or debt obligations issued by the Federal Land Bank, the Federal Home Loan Bank, the Federal Intermediate Credit Bank, the Central Bank for Cooperatives, the Farm Credit Banks, the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Association, and the Federal National Mortgage Association.
CATEGORIZATION OF DEPOSITS At June 30, 2007, the bank balances were $12,970,595. The amounts of the total uninsured bank balances are classified into three categories of custodial credit risk:
Category 1 - Uncollateralized, Category 2 - Cash collateralized with securities held by the pledging financial institution, or

- 18 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 3: DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS

Category 3 - Cash collateralized with securities held by the pledging financial institution's trust department or agent but not in the School District's name.

The School District's uninsured deposits are classified by custodial credit risk category at June 30, 2007, as follows:

Custodial Credit Risk Category

Bank Balance

1

$

0

2

1,032,193

3

11,438,402

Total

$ 12,470,595

CATEGORIZATION OF INVESTMENTS The School District's investments as of June 30, 2007, are presented below. All investments are presented by investment type and debt securities are presented by maturity.

Investment Type

Fair Value

Other Investments Equity Securities - Domestic Common Stock

$ 119,148

Investment Pools Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services Georgia Fund 1

33,315,333

Total Investments

$ 33,434.481

The Local Government Investment Pool administered by the State of Georgia, Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services is not required to be categorized since the School District did not own any specific identifiable securities in the pool. The investment policy ofthe State ofGeorgia, Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services for the Local Government Investment Pool (Primary Liquidity Portfolio) does not provide for investment in derivatives or similar investments. Additional information on the Local Government Investment Pool is disclosed in the State of Georgia Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. This audit can be obtained from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts at http://www.audits.state.ga.us/internet/searchRpts. html.

- 19 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 3: DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS

The Primary Liquidity Portfolio consists ofGeorgia Fund 1 which is not registered with the SEC as an investment company but does operate in a manner consistent with the SEC's Rule 2a-7 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. The investment is valued at the pool's share price, $1.00 per share. The pool is an AAAm rated investment pool by Standard and Poor's. The weighted average maturity of Georgia Fund 1 may not exceed 60 days. The weighted average maturity for Georgia Fund 1 on June 30, 2007, was 15 days.

Interest Rate Risk Interest rate risk is the risk that changes in interest rates of debt investment will adversely affect the fair value ofan investment. The School District does not have a formal policy for managing interest rate risk.

Note 4: NON-MONETARY TRANSACTIONS

The School District receives food commodities from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for school breakfast and lunch programs. These commodities are recorded at their Federally assigned value. See Note 2 - Inventories

Note 5: CAPITAL ASSETS

The following is a summary of changes in the Capital Assets during the fiscal year:

Balances July 1, 2006

Increases

Decreases

Balances June 30, 2007

Governmental Activities Capital Assets, Not Being Depreciated:
Land Construction in Progress

$ 5,701,957 $ 1,340,520 $

23,740 $ 7,018,737

16,299,121 21,784,936 13,377,533 24,706,524

Total Capital Assets Not Being Depreciated $ 22,001,078 $ 23,125,456 $ 13,401,273 $ 31,725,261

Capital Assets Being Depreciated Buildings and Improvements Equipment Land Improvements

$ 158,794,016 $ 14,609,891 $

34,221,313

4,414,926

755,322

101,721

4,326,897 $ 169,077,010 3,684,721 34,951,518
857,043

Less Accumulated Depreciation for: Buildings and Improvements Equipment Land Improvements

40,509,304 20,837,853
192,347

3,573,000 3,621,974
60,083

1,884,263 3,614,776

42,198,041 20,845,051
252,430

Total Capital Assets, Being Depreciated, Net $ 132,231,147 $ 11,871,481 $ 2,512,579 $ 141,590,049

Governmental Activity Capital Assets - Net $ 154,232,225 $ 34,226,93'.Z $ 15,913,852 $ 173,315,310

-20-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 5: CAPITAL ASSETS

Current year depreciation expense by function is as follows:

Instruction Support Services
Pupil Services Improvements of Instructional Services Educational Media Services General Administration School Administration Business Administration Maintenance and Operation of Plant Student Transportation Services Central Support Services Other Support Services Community Services Food Services

$ 5,680,629

$

11,519

83,547

16,777

143,946

20,160

33,861

189,392

762,495

14,862

1 759

1,278,318 5,027
291,083

$ 7,255.057

Note 6: RESTRICTED ASSETS

Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), general obligation bond proceeds, Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission (GSFIC) funds and property tax levied specifically for retirement of outstanding bond principal, interest and paying agent's fees (Debt Service Funds) are reported as restricted assets in the Statement ofNet Assets because their use is limited by applicable bond covenants or statutory provisions. Restricted assets at June 30, 2007, were as follows:

District-wide Capital Projects

Bond

SPLOST

Proceeds

Debt Service Funds

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents: Debt Services Capital Acquisitions
Restricted Investments: Debt Services Capital Acquisitions

$ 4,204,323
$ 3,871,619 $ 10,707,478 $

$ 316,918

$ 40

27,455

- 21 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 7: INTERFUND TRANSFERS

Interfund transfers for the year ended June 30, 2007, consisted of the following:

Transfer to

Transfers From General Fund

District-wide Capital Projects

$ 4,203,500

Transfers are used to move property tax revenues collected by the General Fund to the District-wide Capital Projects Fund as required match or supplemental funding source for capital construction projects.

Note 8: RISK MANAGEMENT

The School District is exposed to various risks of loss related to torts; theft of, damage to, and destruction of assets; errors or omissions; job related illness or injuries to employees; acts of God and unemployment compensation.

The School District participates in the Georgia School Boards Association Risk and Insurance Management System, a public entity risk pool organized on July 1, 1994, to develop and administer a plan to reduce risk of loss on account of general liability, motor vehicle liability, or property damage, including safety engineering and other loss prevention and control techniques, and to administer one or more groups of self-insurance funds, including the processing and defense of claims brought against members ofthe system. The School District pays an annual premium to the system for its general insurance coverage. Additional coverage is provided through agreements by the system with other companies according to their specialty for property, boiler and machinery (including coverage for flood and earthquake), general liability (including coverage for sexual harassment, molestation and abuse), errors and omissions, crime and automobile risks. Payment of excess insurance for the system varies by line of coverage.

The School District has established a limited risk management program for workers' compensation claims. A premium is charged when needed by the Internal Service Fund to the General Fund to cover actual claims and to build a level of retained earnings. A premium is charged by the Internal Service Fund to the Food and Nutrition Program to cover actual claims. The School District accounts for claims with expense and liability being reported when it is probable that a loss has occurred, and the amount of that loss can be reasonably estimated. An excess coverage insurance policy covers individual claims in excess of $300,000 loss per occurrence, up to the statutory limit.

Changes in the workers' compensation claims liability during the last two fiscal years are as follows:

- 22 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 8: RISK MANAGEMENT

2006 2007

Beginning of Year Liability

Claims and Changes in Estimates

Claims Paid

End of Year Liability

$ 370,845 $ 366,564 $

98 978 $ 638,431

$ 638,431 $ 228,584 $ 315,261 $ 551,754

The School District is self-insured with regard to unemployment compensation claims. The School District accounts for claims within the General Fund with expenses/expenditures and liability being reported when it is probable that a loss has occurred, and the amount of that loss can be reasonably estimated.

Changes in the unemployment compensation claims liability during the last two fiscal years are as follows:

2006 2007

Beginning of Year Liability

Claims and Changes in Estimates

Claims Paid

End of Year Liability

$

1 335 $

13,308 $

4 298 $

10 345

$

10 345 $

1 040 $

11,385 $

0

The School District has purchased surety bonds to provide additional insurance coverage as follows:

Position Covered

Amount

Superintendent All Employees

$

50,000

$ 200,000

Note 9: LONG-TERM DEBT

COMPENSATED ABSENCES Compensated absences represent obligations of the School District relating to employees' rights to receive compensation for future absences based upon service already rendered. This obligation relates only to vesting accumulating leave in which payment is probable and can be reasonably estimated. Typically, the General Fund is the fund used to liquidate this long-term debt. The School District uses the vesting method to compute compensated absences.

GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT OUTSTANDING General Obligation Bonds currently outstanding are as follows:

- 23 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 9: LONG-TERM DEBT

Purpose

Interest Rates

Amount

General Government - Series 1994A

3.50%- 7.00%

General Government - Refunding - Series 1998 3.10% - 4.35%

General Government- Series 2001A

3.50% - 4.00%

General Government- Refunding- Series 2001A 3.50% - 4.00%

General Government - Series 2002

3.00% - 4.00%

General Government - Refunding - Series 2003

2.60%

General Government - Series 2005

3.25% - 5.00%

$ 8,090,000 5,815,000 2,025,000 2,290,000 1,460,000 3,850,000 15,000.000

$ 38,530,QQQ

Voters have authorized $15,000,000 in general obligation debt for capital outlay purposes which was not issued as of June 30, 2007.

The changes in Long-Term Debt during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2007, were as follows:

Governmental Funds

General

Compensated Obligation

Absences (1)

Bonds

Total

Balance July 1, 2006

$ 491,915 $ 45,020,000 $ 45,511,915

Additions Annual Leave Earned

583,735

583,735

Deductions Annual Leave Earned Debt Retired

478,776

6,490.000

478,776 6,490,000

Balance June 30, 2007

$ 596,874 $ 3KS3Q1000 $ 39,126,874

Portion of Long-Term Debt

Due within One Year

$

0 $ 6,885.000 $ 6,885,000

(1) The portion of Compensated Absences due within one year has been determined to be immaterial to the basic financial statements.

At June 30, 2007, payments due by fiscal year which includes principal and interest for these items are as follows:

- 24-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 9: LONG-TERM DEBT

Fiscal Year Ended June 30

General Obligation

Debt

Principal

Interest

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

$ 6,885,000 $ 1,703,845

3,665,000

1,464,287

3,960,000

1,278,547

5,985,000

1,022,286

8,815,000

642,450

9,220,000

258,187

Total Principal and Interest Note 10: ON-BEHALF PAYMENTS

$ 38,530.000 $ 6,369.602

The School District has recognized revenues and costs in the amount of $2,686,037 for health insurance and retirement contributions paid on the School District's behalfby the following State Agencies.

Georgia Department of Education Paid to the Georgia Department of Community Health For Health Insurance ofNon-Certified Personnel In the amount of $2,632,999

Paid to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia For Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Employer's Cost In the amount of $29,588

Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services Paid to the Public School Employees Retirement System For Public School Employees Retirement (PSERS) Employer's Cost In the amount of $23,450

Note 11: SPECIAL ITEM

Columbia County Board ofEducation completed the sale ofEvans Middle School (old Evans High School) for $4,575,675 in the fall of 2006. The proceeds were used to offset the cost ofbuilding a new modem Evans Middle School in a location with less congestion. The gain from the sale was $2,081,740.

- 25 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT"K"

Note 12: SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENTS

The following is an analysis ofsignificant outstanding construction or renovation contracts executed by the School District as of June 30, 2007, together with funding available:

Project

Unearned Executed Contracts

Funding Available From State

07-636-016/070-636-021 Cedar Ridge Elementary School Lewiston Elementary School Additions River Ridge Elementary School Additions New High School

$ 7,857,109 $ 767,985 23,508 46,565
11,293,235

582,828

$ 19.988_402 $ 16302.226

The amounts described in this note are not reflected in the basic financial statements.

Note 13: SIGNIFICANT CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

Amounts received or receivable principally from the Federal government are subject to audit and review by grantor agencies. This could result in requests for reimbursement to the grantor agency for any costs which are disallowed under grant terms. The School District believes that such disallowances, if any, will be immaterial to its overall financial position.

The School District is a defendant in various legal proceedings pertaining to matters incidental to the performance ofroutine School District operations. The ultimate disposition ofthese proceedings is not presently determinable, but is not believed to be material to the basic financial statements.

Note 14: RETIREMENT PLANS

TEACHERS RETIREMENT SYSTEM OF GEORGIA (TRS)

TRS PLAN DESCRIPTION Substantially all teachers, administrative and clerical personnel employed by local school systems are covered by the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia (TRS), which is a cost-sharing multiple employer defined benefit pension plan. TRS provides service retirement, disability retirement and survivors benefits for its members in accordance with State statute. The Teachers Retirement System of Georgia issues a separate stand alone financial audit report and a copy can be obtained from the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts.

- 26 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
JUNE 30, 2007

EXHIBIT "K"

Note 14: RETIREMENT PLANS

TRS CONTRIBUTIONS REQUIRED AND MADE Employees ofthe School District who are covered by TRS are required by State statute to contribute 5% of their gross earnings to TRS. The School District makes monthly employer contributions to TRS at rates adopted by the TRS Board of Trustees in accordance with State statute and as advised by their independent actuary. The required employer contribution rate is 9.28% and employer contributions for the current fiscal year and the preceding two fiscal years are as follows:

Fiscal Year

Percentage Contributed

Required Contribution

2007 2006 2005

100% 100% 100%

$ 9,776,525 $ 8,338,175 $ 7,782,267

- 27 -

(This page left intentionally blank)

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION GENERAL FUND
SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES BUDGET AND ACTUAL
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

SCHEDULE "1"

REVENUES
Property Taxes Sales Taxes State Funds Federal Funds Charges for Services Investment Earnings Miscellaneous
Total Revenues
EXPENDITURES
Current Instruction Support Services Pupil Services Improvement of Instructional Services Educational Media Services General Administration School Administration Business Administration Maintenance and Operation of Plant Student Transportation Services Central Support Services Other Support Services Enterprise Operations Food Services Operation
Total Expenditures
Excess of Revenues over (under) Expenditures
OTHER FINANCING USES
Other Uses
Net Change in Fund Balances
Fund Balances - Beginning
Fund Balances - Ending

NONAPPROPRIATED BUDGETS

ORIGINAL (1 l

FINAL (1l

ACTUAL AMOUNTS

$

54,573,622 $

54,573,622 $

54,765,296

1,360,000

1,360,000

2,510,393

95,627,584

97,778,800

102,074,711

9,312,638

9,231,751

9,146,785

4,812,100

4,812,100

8,819,984

1,075,000

1,075,000

1,946,353

497 900

516 400

1,756,602

$ 167,258,844 $ 169,347,673 $ 181,020,124

$ 114,618,980 $ 115,065,897 $ 117,156,046

3,474,798 3,824,728 3,548,355 1,089,769 10,034,479 1,235,634 12,394,578 7,386,582
917,537 24,955
8,142,321

3,279,536 4,204,138 3,532,724 1,138,048 10,050,393 1,235,634 12,557,045 7,765,783
918,062 61,717
8,142,321

3,293,805 3,996,305 3,845,222 1,110,135 11,239,730 1,190,249 12,403,595 7,699,282
911,645 48,346 3,584,564 7,654,281

$ 166,692,716 $ 167,951,298 $ 174,133,205

$

566,128 $

1,396,375 $

6,886,919

-350,000

-6,250,000

-4,203,500

$

216,128 $

-4,853,625 $

2,683,419

28,671,964

26,709,054

25,390,398

$

28,888,092 $

s 21 1855,429 =====2..a._,o..,1_3,,..a1..1. =

Notes to the Schedule of Revenues, Expenditures and Changes in Fund Balances Budget and Actual
(1) Original and Final Budget amounts do not include budgeted revenues or expenditures of the various principal accounts.
The accompanying schedule of revenues, expenditures and changes in fund balances budget and actual is presented on the modified accrual basis of accounting which is the basis of accounting used in the presentation of the fund financial statements.

See notes to the basic financial statements.

- 29-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

SCHEDULE "2"

FUNDING AGENCY PROGRAM/GRANT
Agriculture, U. S. Department of Child Nutrition Cluster Pass-Through From Georgia Department of Education Food Services School Breakfast Program National School Lunch Program
Total Child Nutrition Cluster
Other Programs Pass-Through From Georgia Department of Education Food Donation (1)
Total U. S. Department of Agriculture
Education, U. S. Department of Special Education Cluster Pass-Through From Georgia Department of Education Special Education Grants to States Preschool Grants
Total Special Education Cluster
Other Programs Direct Impact Aid Pass-Through From Georgia Department of Education English Language Acquisition Grants Enhancing Education Through Technology Program Hurricane Education Recovery Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities State Grants for Innovative Programs Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Vocational Education - Basic Grants to States
Total U.S. Department of Education
Defense, U. S. Department of Direct Department of the Army R.O.T.C. Program Department of the Navy R.O.T.C. Program
Total U.S. Department of Defense
Total Federal Financial Assistance
N/A = Not Available

CFDA NUMBER

PASSTHROUGH
ENTITY ID
NUMBER

EXPENDITURES IN PERIOD

. 10.553
. 10.555
10.550

N/A

(2)

N/A

$

6,702,241

$

6,702,241

N/A

492,241

$

7194482

84.027 84.173
84.041
84.365 84.318
. 84.938 84.367 84.186 84.298 84.010 84.048

N/A

$

3,154,851

N/A

92,927

$

3,247,778

(3)

N/A

29,088

NIA

73

N/A

(4)

NIA

527,270

N/A

49,473

NIA

23,549

N/A

1,580,841

N/A

139 703

$

5,597,775

$

155,554

55038

$

210,592

$

13,002,849

- 30-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

SCHEDULE "2"

Notes to the Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards
(1) The amount shown for the Food Donation Program represents the Federally assigned value of nonmonetary assistance for donated commodities received and/or consumed by the School District during the current fiscal year.
(2) Expenditures for the funds earned on the School Breakfast Program ($395,119) were not maintained separately and are included in the 2007 National School Lunch Program.
(3) Funds earned on the Impact Aid program, in the amount of $233,211, do not require reporting of expenditures. (4) Funds earned and expended in the prior period on the Hurricane Education Recovery program, in the amount of $60,646,
do not require reporting of expenditures.
Major Programs are identified by an asterisk (*) in front of the CFDA number.
The School District did not provide Federal Assistance to any Subrecipient.
The accompanying schedule of expenditures of Federal awards includes the Federal grant activity of the Columbia County Board of Education and is presented on the modified accrual basis of accounting which is the basis of accounting used in the presentation of the fund financial statements.

See notes to the basic financial statements.

- 31 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF STATE REVENUE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

SCHEDULE "3"

AGENCY/FUNDING
GRANTS Bright From the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning Pre-Kindergarten Program
Education, Georgia Department of Quality Basic Education Direct Instructional Cost Kindergarten Program Kindergarten Program - Early Intervention Program Primary Grades (1-3) Program Primary Grades - Early Intervention (1-3) Program Upper Elementary Grades (4-5) Program Upper Elementary Grades - Early Intervention (4-5) Program Middle School (6-8) Program High School General Education (9-12) Program Vocational Laboratory (9-12) Program Students with Disabilities Category I Category II Category Ill Category IV CategoryV Gifted Student - Category VI Remedial Education Program Alternative Education Program English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) Media Center Program 20 Days Additional Instruction Staff and Professional Development Indirect Cost Central Administration School Administration Facility Maintenance and Operations Categorical Grants Pupil Transportation Regular Bus Replacement Nursing Services Principal Supplements Vocational Supervisors Education Equalization Funding Grant Food Services Vocational Education Amended Formula Adjustment Other State Programs K-8 Reading and Math Bonds for Buses Health Insurance Comprehensive Academic Performance System Middle School Remediation National Teacher Certification Preschool Handicapped Program Special Education Low Incidence Grant Teachers' Retirement Virtual Schools Grant

GOVERNMENTAL FUND TYPES

CAPITAL

GENERAL

PROJECTS

FUND

FUND

TOTAL

$ 1,562,836

$

1,562,836

6,697,834 189,864
15,360,474 688,804
7,898,200 419,141
14,023,567 13,611,666
2,394,430
390,936 635,679 4,552,799 1,293,903 598,780 1,656,610 343,773 1,114,286 192,346 2,166,769 709,757 390,559
1,943,224 4,177,655 5,627,447
1,910,942 188,707 379,438 68,408 37,717
7,852,247 459,800 112,152
-1,878,393
244,169 400,000 2,632,999 160,300
12,182 364,338 252,542
12,186 29,588
8,600

6,697,834 189,864
15,360,474 688,804
7,898,200 419,141
14,023,567 13,611,666
2,394,430
390,936 635,679 4,552,799 1,293,903 598,780 1,656,610 343,773 1,114,286 192,346 2,166,769 709,757 390,559
1,943,224 4,177,655 5,627,447
1,910,942 188,707 379,438 68,408 37,717
7,852,247 459,800 112,152
-1,878,393
244,169 400,000 2,632,999 160,300
12',182 364,338 252,542
12,186 29,588
8,600

- 32-

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF STATE REVENUE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

SCHEDULE "3"

AGENCY/FUNDING
GRANTS Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission Reimbursement on Construction Projects
Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services Public School Employees Retirement
CONTRACT Education, Georgia Department of Foreign Language Model Program
OTHER Community Affairs, Georgia Department of Local Assistance Grant

GOVERNMENTAL FUND TYPES

CAPITAL

GENERAL

PROJECTS

FUND

FUND

TOTAL

$

5,732,717 $

5,732,717

$

23,450

23,450

122,000

122,000

40 000

40 000

$ 102,074,711 $

5 732 717 $===10;;,,;7,!;8:=0:a,76:42=8=

See notes to the basic financial statements.

- 33 -

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF APPROVED LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PROJECTS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

Revenues
Sales Tax 2002 - 2007 Proceeds Sales Tax 2007 - 2012 Proceeds 2005 Bond Proceeds State Proceeds Local Proceeds Interest
Total Revenues
Ex12enditures
Debt Payments Audit Fees Capital Projects Equipment, Buses and Portables
Total Expenditures

BUDGET

SPLOST 2002 - 2007 (1)

CURRENT

PRIOR

YEAR

YEARS

$

68,265,548 $

90,855,000

15,664,805

30,022,138

15,720,000

1700000

$ 222,227,491 $

16,877,239 $ 51,388,309

713 991

283 061

17,591,230 $ 51 671 370

$

83,006,732 $

36,000

108,995,625

18,602,859

$ 210,641,216 $

7,810,288 $ 3,750
3,613,813 448 200

32,045,061 7,500
7,677,331 4 954 823

11 876 051 $ 44 684 715

Proceeds for Current and Future Projects

$

11,586,275 $

5 715 179 $ 6,986,655

The voters of Columbia County approved the imposition of a 1% sales tax (SPLOST) for 2002 - 2007 and 2007 - 2012 to fund the above projects and retire debt. The amounts expended for these projects may include sales tax proceeds, state, local property taxes and/or other funds over the life of the projects.
(1) The School District's original cost estimate as specified in the resolution for the 2002 - 2007 SPLOST was (1) for the cost of acquiring, constructing, and equipping one new elementary school and one new middle school, adding and equipping new classrooms at existing high schools, acquiring land for future schools, adding to, renovating, repairing, improving, and equipping existing school buildings and other buildings and facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, and acquiring any necessary property therefor, both real and personal, (2) the cost of acquiring instructional and administrative technology improvements for existing schools and acquiring school buses, the maximum cost of the projects described in clauses (1) and (2) above to be $42,067,795 and (3) the cost of paying debt due on April 1, 2003 through October 1, 2007, in the maximum amount of $27,932,205 for a total of $70,000,000. The taxpayers also approved the sale of $16,000,000 in bonds in order to advance fund the projects. The principal and interest on the $16,000,000 was paid with SPLOST proceeds which is not reflected in the $27,932,205.
(2) The School District's original cost estimate as specified in the resolution for the 2007 - 2012 SPLOST was (1) to acquire, construct, and equip two new elementary schools, three new middle schools, and one new high school, acquire land for future schools and instructional and administrative technology improvements for existing schools, add to, renovate, repair, improve, and equip existing school buildings and other buildings and facilities useful or desirable in connection therewith, and acquiring any necessary property therefor, both real and personal, (2) and to acquire school buses, the maximum cost of the projects described in clauses (1) and (2) above to be $95,100,000 and (3) the cost of paying debt due on April 1, 2008 through October 1, 2012, in the maximum amount of $19,900,000 for a total of $115,000,000. The taxpayers also approved the sale of $30,000,000 in bonds in order to advance fund the projects. At this time only $15,000,000 of the bonds have been sold. The principal and interest on the $15,000,000 will be paid with SPLOST proceeds which is not reflected in the $19,900,000.

See notes to the basic financial statements.

- 34 -

SCHEDULE "4"

SPLOST 2007 - 2012 (2)

BONDS

SALES TAX PROCEEDS

CURRENT

PRIOR

CURRENT PRIOR

YEAR

YEARS

YEAR

YEARS

STATE AND LOCAL FUNDING

CURRENT

PRIOR

YEAR

YEARS

TOTAL

PERCENTAGE COMPLETION

$ $ 15,664,805

$

52,696

404 019

$

52 696 $ 16,068,824 $

$ 633,837 $ 897,937 $

3,459,281

11,130,346

$ 4,093,118 $ 12,028,283 $

$ -4,040,422 $ 4 040 541 $

0 $

0

$ 68,265,548

0

15,664,805

$ 5,732,717 $ 7,987,221

13,719,938

8,779,175

6,940,825

15,720,000

1 453 767

0 $

0 $ 14,511,892 $ 14,928,046 $ 114,824,058

100% 0%
100% 46% 100% 86%

0 $

0

$ 41,387,123

11,250

$ 16,944,631 $ 12,301,245

55,126,647

5,403,023

50% 31% 51% 29%

0 $

0 $ 16 944 631 $ 12,301,245 $ 101,928,043

0 $

0 $ -2,432,739 $ 2,626,801 $ 12,896,015

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COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION GENERAL FUND QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (QBE)
ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES BY PROGRAM YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

SCHEDULE "5"

DESCRIPTION
Direct Instructional Programs Kindergarten Program Kindergarten Program-Early Intervention Program Primary Grades (1-3) Program Primary Grades-Early Intervention (1-3) Program Upper Elementary Grades (4-5) Program Upper Elementary Grades-Early Intervention (4-5) Program Middle School (6-8) Program High School General Education (9-12) Program Vocational Laboratory (9-12) Program Students with Disabilities Category I Category II Category Ill Category IV CategoryV Gifted Student - Category VI Remedial Education Program Alternative Education Program English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
TOTAL DIRECT INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS
Media Center Program Staff and Professional Development

ALLOTMENTS FROM GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION {1) {2)

ELIGIBLE QBE PROGRAM COSTS

SALARIES

OPERATIONS

TOTAL

$

7,615,602 $ 8,242,151 $

214,655 $

8,456,806

222,222

193,439

2,456

195,895

17,539,461

21,736,614

1,040,334

22,776,948

798,024

681,467

9,964

691,431

9,029,904

10,835,543

258,942

11,094,485

484,452 16,114,633 15,582,537 2,717,283 8,528,256
1,879,699 370,456
1,277,096 212 988

661,639 18,349,688 17,946,627
2,571,637
301,867 508,951 8,506,758 193,568 207,452 1,862,813 167,814 1,017,764 277,936

4,633 868,645 1,152,789 495,977
13,111 13,117 356,419 23,215 19,243 56,911
3,756 21,309 14 220

666,272 19,218,333 19,099,416
3,067,614
314,978 522,068 8,863,177 216,783 226,695 1,919,724 171,570 1,039,073 292,156

$

82,372,613 $ 94,263,728 $

4,569,696 $ 98,833,424

2,480,996 453 431

2,995,637

453,110

3,448,747 373,323

TOTAL QBE FORMULA FUNDS

$

85,307,040 $ 97,259,365 $

5,022,806 $ 102,655,494

(1) Comprised of State Funds plus Local Five Mill Share. (2) Allotments do not include the impact of the State amended formula adjustment.

See notes to the basic financial statements.

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SECTION II COMPLIANCE AND INTERNAL CONTROL REPORTS

RUSSELL W. HINTON
STATE AUDITOR
(404) 656-2174

DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTS
270 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 1-156 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-8400
December 17, 2007

Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor Members ofthe General Assembly Members of the State Board of Education
and Superintendent and Members ofthe Columbia County Board of Education
REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING AND ON COMPLIANCE AND OTHER MATTERS BASED ON AN AUDIT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS PERFORMED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOVERNMENT AUDITING STANDARDS
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have audited the financial statements of the governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of Columbia County Board of Education as of and for the year ended June 30, 2007, which collectively comprise Columbia County Board ofEducation's basic financial statements and have issued our report thereon dated December 17, 2007. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States ofAmerica and the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General of the United States.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
In planning and performing our audit, we considered Columbia County Board ofEducation's internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing our auditing procedures for the purpose of expressing our opinions on the financial statements, but not for the purpose ofexpressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Columbia County Board of Education's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness ofthe Columbia County Board of Education's internal control over financial reporting.
A control deficiency exists when the design or operation ofa control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course of performing their assigned functions, to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a control deficiency, or combination of
2007YB-10

control deficiencies, that adversely affect the Columbia County Board of Education's ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement ofthe Columbia County Board ofEducation's financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected by the Columbia County Board of Education's internal control.
A material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement ofthe financial statements will not be prevented or detected by the Columbia County Board of Education's internal control.
Our consideration of the internal control over financial reporting was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph ofthis section and would not necessarily disclose all deficiencies in internal control that might be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. We did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over financial reporting that we consider to be material weaknesses, as defined above.
Compliance and Other Matters
As part of obtaining reasonable assurance about whether Columbia County Board of Education's financial statements are free of material misstatement, we performed tests of its compliance with certain provisions oflaws, regulations, contracts and grant agreements, noncompliance with which could have a direct and material effect on the determination of financial statement amounts. However, providing an opinion on compliance with those provisions was not an objective of our audit, and accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. The results of our tests disclosed no instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under Government Auditing Standards.
We noted certain matters that we have reported to management of Columbia County Board of Education in a separate letter dated December 17, 2007.
This report is intended solely for the information and use of the management, members of the Columbia County Board of Education, Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.
Respectfully submitted,
~~lD~~
Ru sell W. Hinton, CPA, CGFM State Auditor
RWH:as 2007YB-10

RUSSELL W. HINTON
STATE AUDITOR
(404) 656-2174

DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTS
270 Washington Street, S.W., Suite 1-156 Atlanta, Georgia 30334-8400
December 17, 2007

Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor Members of the General Assembly Members of the State Board of Education
and Superintendent and Members of the Columbia County Board of Education
REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EACH MAJOR PROGRAM AND ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 0MB CIRCULARA-133
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Compliance
We have audited the compliance of Columbia County Board of Education with the types of compliance requirements described in the U.S. Office ofManagement and Budget (0MB) Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement that are applicable to each ofits major Federal programs for the year ended June 30, 2007. Columbia County Board ofEducation's major Federal programs are identified in the Summary of Auditor's Results Section of the accompanying Schedule of Findings and Questioned Costs. Compliance with the requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to each ofits major Federal programs is the responsibility ofColumbia County Board of Education's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Columbia County Board of Education's compliance based on our audit.
We conducted our audit of compliance in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States ofAmerica; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General ofthe United States; and 0MB Circular A133, Audits ofStates, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Those standards and 0MB Circular A-133 require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether noncompliance with the types of compliance requirements referred to above that could have a direct and material effect on a major Federal program occurred. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence about the Columbia County Board of Education's compliance

2007SA-10

with those requirements and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our audit does not provide a legal determination on Columbia County Board ofEducation's compliance with those requirements.
In our opinion, the Columbia County Board ofEducation complied, in all material respects, with the requirements referred to above that are applicable to each ofits major Federal programs for the year ended June 30, 2007.
Internal Control Over Compliance
The management of Columbia County Board of Education is responsible for establishing and maintaining effective internal control over compliance with requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to Federal programs. In planning and performing our audit, we considered Columbia County Board of Education's internal control over compliance with requirements that could have a direct and material effect on a major Federal program in order to determine our auditing procedures for the purpose ofexpressing our opinion on compliance, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over compliance. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Columbia County Board of Education's internal control over compliance.
A control deficiency in an entity's internal control over compliance exists when the design or operation ofa control does not allow management or employees, in the normal course ofperforming their assigned functions, to prevent or detect noncompliance with a type ofcompliance requirement of a Federal program on a timely basis. A significant deficiency is a control deficiency, or combination ofcontrol deficiencies, that adversely affects the entity's ability to administer a Federal program such that there is more than a remote likelihood that noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement of a Federal program that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected by the entity's internal control.
A material weakness is a significant deficiency, or combination of significant deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that material noncompliance with a type of compliance requirement ofa Federal program will not be prevented or detected by the entity's internal control.
Our consideration ofthe internal control over compliance was for the limited purpose described in the first paragraph of this section and would not necessarily identify all deficiencies in internal control that might be significant deficiencies or material weaknesses. We did not identify any deficiencies in internal control over compliance that we consider to be material weaknesses, as defined above.
2007SA-10

This report is intended solely for the information and use of the management, members of the Columbia County Board of Education, Federal awarding agencies and pass-through entities and is not intended to be and should not be used by anyone other than these specified parties.

Respectfully submitted,

.

~~~.--B-~

Russell W. Hinton, CPA, CGFM State Auditor

RWH:as 2007SA-10

SECTION III AUDITEE'S RESPONSE TO PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AUDITEE'S RESPONSE
SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007

PRIOR YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

FINDING CONTROL NUMBER

AUDITEE'S RESPONSE/STATUS

SEE AUDITOR'S COMMENTS

FS-6361-06-01

Further Action Not Warranted

(1)

AUDITOR'S COMMENTS

(1) Findings/internal control deficiencies ofthis nature, that are not deemed significant deficiencies or material weaknesses and do not require reporting in the audit report in accordance with Statements on Auditing Standards (SAS) 112 or Governmental Auditing Standards (Yellow Book), will be communicated in a management letter in subsequent periods.

PRIOR YEAR FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

FINDING CONTROL NUMBER AND STATUS

F A-6361-06-01

Unresolved - See Corrective Action/Responses

CORRECTIVE ACTION/RESPONSES

ACTIVITIES ALLOWED OR UNALLOWED Inadequate Internal Control Procedures Finding Control Number: FA-6361-06-01

No longer have the grant.

AUDITOR NOTE: In a May 11, 2007 communication to the Board's Superintendent, Georgia Department ofEducation advised the Board that this finding is pending review by its Financial Review Section.

SECTION IV FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS

COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007
I SUMMARY OF AUDITOR'S RESULTS
1. Type of Report Issued on the Financial Statements The auditor's opinion on the Columbia County Board of Education's financial statements was unqualified.
2. Significant Deficiencies in Internal Control Disclosed by the Audit ofthe Financial Statements The audit report for the Columbia County Board of Education did not disclose any significant deficiencies related to the financial statements.
3. Noncompliance Material to the Financial Statements The audit of the Columbia County Board of Education disclosed no instances of noncompliance that were deemed to be material to the financial statements.
4. Significant Deficiencies in Internal Control Over Major Programs The audit report for the Columbia County Board of Education did not disclose any significant deficiencies in internal control over major programs.
5. Type of Report Issued on Compliance for Major Programs The auditor's opinion on the Columbia County Board of Education's report on compliance with requirements applicable to major programs was unqualified.
6. Audit Findings Required to be Reported by Section .510{a) ofOMB Circular A-133 The Columbia County Board ofEducation's audit did not disclose audit findings required to be reported by section .510(a) ofOMB Circular A-133.
7. Major Programs Federal awards audited as major programs are as follows: 10.553 Food Services - School Breakfast Program 10.555 Food Services - National School Lunch Program 84.367 Improving Teacher Quality State Grants
8. Type "A" Program Dollar Threshold The dollar threshold for type "A" programs was $398,901.
9. Low Risk Auditee The Columbia County Board of Education qualified as a low risk auditee as defined by Section .530 of 0MB Circular A-133.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY BOARD OF E,DUCATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS
YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2007 II FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS No matters were reported. III FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS No matters were reported.
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