EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BLAKELY, GEORGIA REPORT ON AUDIT OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 STATE OF GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF AUDITS AND ACCOUNTS Russell W. Hinton State Auditor EARLY 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 FIDUCIARY NET ASSETS FIDUCIARY FUNDS 8 H STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FIDUCIARY NET ASSETS FIDUCIARY FUNDS 9 I NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 11 SCHEDULES REQUIRED SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 1 SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES - BUDGET AND ACTUAL GENERAL FUND 27 EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION - TABLE OF CONTENTS - SECTION I FINANCIAL SCHEDULES SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 2 SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS 28 3 SCHEDULE OF STATE REVENUE 30 4 SCHEDULE OF APPROVED LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PROJECTS 31 5 ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES GENERAL FUND - QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAMS (QBE) BY PROGRAM 33 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 GOVERNMENTAUDITING STANDARDS REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EACH MAJOR PROGRAM AND ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 0MB CIRCULAR A-133 SECTION III AUDITEE'S RESPONSE TO PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS 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 June 22, 2009 Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor Members ofthe General Assembly Members ofthe State Board of Education and Superintendent and Members of the Early 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 I) of the Early County Board of Education, as of and for the year ended June 30, 2008, which collectively comprise the Board's basic financial statements as listed in the table of contents. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Early County Board of Education'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 Early 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. 2008ARL-11 In our opinion, the financial statements referred to previously present fairly, in all material respects, the respective financial position ofthe governmental activities, each major fund, and the aggregate remaining fund information of the Early County Board of Education, as of June 30, 2008, and the respective changes in financial position 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 June 22, 2009, on our consideration ofthe Early County Board ofEducation'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 of that report is to describe the scope of our testing of internal control over financial reporting and compliance and the results ofthat 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 vii and page 27 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 Early 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, RWH:as 2008ARL-11 R ssell W. Hinton, CPA, CGFM State Auditor EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 The discussion and analysis of the Early County Board of Education's financial performance provides an overall review of the School District's financial activities for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008. 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 to enhance their understanding of the School District's financial performance. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Key financial highlights for 2008 are as follows: In total, net assets increased $1.4 million which represents a 6.6 percent increase from fiscal year 2007. This total increase is due to governmental activities since the School District has no business-type activities. General revenues accounted for $9.2 million in revenue or 32.7 percent of all revenues. Program specific revenues in the form of charges for services and sales, grants and contributions accounted for $19.0 million or 67.3 percent of total revenues of $28.2 million. The School District had $26.9 million in expenses related to governmental activities; however, $19.0 million of these expenses were offset by program specific charges for services, grants or contributions. General revenues (primarily taxes) of $9.2 million were adequate to provide for these programs. Among major funds, the general fund had $25.7 million in revenues and $25.8 million in expenditures. USING THE BASIC 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 the Early County Board of Education as a financial whole, or as an entire operating entity. The Statement ofNet Assets and Statement ofActivities provide information about the activities of the whole School District, presenting both an aggregate view of the School District's finances and a longer-term view of those finances. Fund financial statements provide the next level of detail. For governmental funds, these statements tell how services were financed in the shortterm as well as what remains for future spending. The fund financial statements also look at the School District's most significant funds with all other nonmajor funds presented in total in one column. The general fund is by far the most significant fund in the case of the Early County Board of Education. EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 REPORTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A WHOLE Statement ofNet Assets and the Statement ofActivities While these documents contain the large number of funds used by the School District to provide programs and activities, the view of the School District as a whole looks at all financial transactions and asks the question, "How did we do financially during fiscal year 2008?" The Statement ofNet Assets and the Statement ofActivities answer this question. These statements include all assets and all liabilities using the accrual basis of accounting similar to the accounting used by most private-sector companies. This basis of accounting takes into account all of the current year's revenues and expenses regardless of when cash is received or paid. These two statements report the School District's net assets and changes in those assets. This change in net assets is important because it tells the reader whether, for the School District as a whole, the financial position of the School District has improved or diminished. The causes of this change may be the result of many factors, some financial, some not. Nonfinancial factors include the School District's property tax base, facility conditions, required educational programs and other factors. In the Statement of Net Assets and the Statement of Activities, the School District has one distinct type of activity: Governmental Activities - All of the School District's programs and services are reported here including instruction, support services, operation and maintenance of plant, pupil transportation, food service, after school program, school activity accounts and various others. REPORTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S MOST SIGNIFICANT FUNDS Fund Financial Statements Although the School District uses many funds to account for a multitude of transactions, the fund financial statements focus on the School District's most significant funds. The School District's major governmental funds are the General Fund, the Capital Projects Fund, and the Debt Service Fund. 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 the balances left at yearend available for spending in future periods. These funds are reported using an accounting method called 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 11 EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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. Fiduciary Funds: The School District is the trustee, or fiduciary, for assets that belong to others such as school clubs and organizations within the principals' accounts. The School District is responsible for ensuring that the assets reported in these funds are used only for their intended purposes and by those to whom the assets belong. The School District excludes these activities from the District-wide financial statements because it cannot use these assets to finance its operations. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AS A WHOLE The perspective of the Statement of Net Assets is of the School District as a whole. Table 1 provides a summary of the School District's net assets for fiscal year 2008. Table 1 Net Assets (in Thousands) Governmental Activities Fiscal Fiscal Year 2008 Year 2007 Assets Current and Other Assets Capital Assets, Net Total Assets $ 11,354 19,539 $ 30,893 $ 9,793 16,609 $ 26,402 Liabilities Current and Other Liabilities Long-Term Liabilities $ 3,415 5,400 $ 2,419 3,270 Total Liabilities $ 8,815 $ 5,689 Net Assets Invested in Capital Assets, Net of Related Debt Restricted Unrestricted $ 15,315 6,202 561 $ 16,298 4,462 -47 Total Net Assets $ 22,078 $ 20,713 Total net assets increased $1.4 million. 111 EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 Table 2 shows the changes in net assets for fiscal year 2007 and 2008. Table 2 Change in Net Assets (in Thousands) Revenues Program Revenues: Charges for Services and Sales Operating Grants and Contributions Capital Grants and Contributions Total Program Revenues General Revenues: Taxes Property Taxes For Maintenance and Operations Other Taxes Sales Taxes Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax For Debt Service For Capital Projects Other Taxes Grants and Contributions not Restricted to Specific Programs Investment Earnings Miscellaneous Total General Revenues Total Revenues 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 Other Support Services Operations of Non-Instructional Services Food Services Interest on Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Total Expenses Increase in Net Assets Governmental Activities Fiscal Fiscal Year 2008 Year 2007 $ 536 18,425 50 $ 19,011 $ 212 16,883 1 139 $ 18,234 $ 5,713 33 2,142 21 13 771 281 269 $ 9,243 $ 28,254 $ 17,943 804 1,042 347 533 1,944 134 1,381 1,052 374 1,238 98 $ 26,890 $ 1 364 $ 4,638 1,392 477 87 913 273 671 $ 8,451 $ 26,685 $ 16,205 979 644 336 468 1,806 115 1,275 1,012 186 1,257 46 $ 24,329 $ 2,356 IV EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 GOVERNMENTAL ACTIVITIES Instruction comprises 66.7 percent of governmental program expenses. Interest expense comprises 0.4 percent of governmental program expenses. Interest expense was attributable to the outstanding bonds for capital projects. The Statement of Activities shows the cost of program services and the charges for services and grants offsetting those services. Table 3 shows, for governmental activities, the total cost of services and the net cost of services. That is, it identifies the cost of these services supported by tax revenue and unrestricted State entitlements. Table 3 Governmental Activities (in Thousands) Total Cost of Services Fiscal Fiscal Year 2008 Year 2007 Net Cost of Services Fiscal Fiscal Year 2008 Year 2007 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 Other Support Services Operations of Non-Instructional Services Food Services Interest on Short-Term and Long-Term Debt $ 17,943 $ 16,205 $ 804 1,042 347 533 1,944 134 1,381 1,052 374 979 644 336 468 1,806 I I 5 1,275 1,012 186 1,238 98 1,257 46 4,431 $ 546 313 39 -148 1,213 126 658 555 9 38 98 2,953 730 283 34 -82 1,186 104 575 245 -24 44 46 Total Expenses $ 26,82Q $ 24,322 $ :Z,8:Z8 $ 6,Q24 Although program revenues make up a majority of the revenues, the School District is still dependent upon tax revenues for governmental activities. Over 24.7 percent of instruction activities are supported through taxes and other general revenues; for all governmental activities general revenue support is 29.3 percent. THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S FUNDS The School District's governmental funds are accounted for using the modified accrual basis of accounting. Total governmental funds had revenues and other financing sources of $31.6 million and expenditures and other financing uses of $31.2 million. The capital projects fund had an overall decrease of $0.2 million due in large part to beginning construction of the high school gymnasium. The general fund had a decrease of $0.06 million and the debt service fund had an increase of $0.8 million. V EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 GENERAL FUND BUDGETING HIGHLIGHTS The School District's budget is prepared according to Georgia law. The most significant budgeted fund is the General Fund. During the course of fiscal year 2008, the School District amended its General Fund budget as needed. The School District uses site-based budgeting. The budgeting systems are designed to tightly control total site budgets but provide flexibility for site management. For the General Fund, the final budgeted revenues of $28.1 million exceeded the original budgeted amount of $21.3 million by $6.8 million. The actual revenues of $25.7 million were below the final budgeted amount by $2.4 million. The final budgeted expenditures of $25.8 million exceeded the original budgeted amount of $21.1 million by $4.7 million. The actual expenditures of $25.8 million were the same as the final budgeted. General Fund expenditures exceeded revenues by $0.06 million. The School District has made a concerted effort to raise fund balance in anticipation of future needs, and this result is evidence of their work. CAPITAL ASSETS AND DEBT ADMINISTRATION Capital Assets At the end of fiscal year 2008, the School District had $19.5 million invested in capital assets, all in governmental activities. Table 4 indicates balances at June 30, 2008. Table 4 Capital Assets at June 30 (Net of Depreciation, in Thousands) Governmental Activities Fiscal Fiscal Year 2008 Year 2007 Land Construction in Progress Buildings and Improvements Equipment $ 343 3,264 14,690 1,242 $ 343 74 15,055 1,137 Total $ 19,539 $ 16,609 The primary increases occurred in Construction m Progress due to the beginning of the construction of the high school gymnasium. Vl EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 Debt At June 30, 2008, the Board had $5.4 million in bonds outstanding with $1.1 million due within one year. Table 5 Debt at June 30 (in Thousands) Governmental Activities Fiscal Fiscal Year 2008 Year 2007 General Obligation Bonds $ 5,400 $ 3,270 CURRENT ISSUES Due to the State's poor economic condition, the Early County Board of Education has had to "weather" several years of austerity reductions. Austerity reductions since 2003 have accumulated to $2.6 million. Sales tax revenue growth is lower than anticipated. Since a shortfall is expected in total collections under the current Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax Initiative, capital projects have been evaluated and re-prioritized. The Early County Board of Education completed fiscal year 2008 with a positive fund balance. Significant cost and budgetary control measures were initiated and maintained by the School District in fiscal year 2008 and are budgeted to continue in fiscal year 2009. The School District is continually working to develop a healthy fund balance in order to sustain the school system through any future poor economic conditions. CONTACTING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'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 information, contact Stella M. Smith, CPA, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services/Chief Financial Officer at the Early County Board of Education, 11927 Columbia Street, Blakely, Georgia 39823. Vll EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS JUNE 30, 2008 ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments Accounts Receivable, Net Interest Taxes State Government Federal Government Other Inventories Prepaid Items Capital Assets, Non-Depreciable Capital Assets, Depreciable (Net of Accumulated Depreciation) Total Assets LIABILITIES Accounts Payable Salaries and Benefits Payable Payroll Withholdings 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 Bus Replacement 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 $ 6,577,577.50 1,913,309.60 13,928.09 644,812.66 1,845,771.76 318,233.62 1,304.12 15,539.65 23,078.50 3,606,576.01 15,932,685.04 $ ===30='=89=2=,8=1=6.=55= $ 406,460.70 2,271,137.16 38,667.00 418,174.15 280,255.39 1,055,000.00 4,345,000.00 $ 8,814 694.40 $ 15,315,210.05 99,434.25 26,492.40 2,603,113.60 3,472,579.94 561,291.91 $ 22,078,122.15 $ ===30='=89=2=,8=1=6.=5=5 EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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 Other Support Services Operations of Non-Instructional Services Food Services Interest on Short-Term and Long-Term Debt Total Governmental Activities General Revenues Taxes Property Taxes For Maintenance and Operations Other Taxes Sales Taxes Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax For Debt Services For Capital Projects Other Sales Tax Grants and Contributions not Restricted to Specific Programs Investment Earnings Miscellaneous Total General Revenues Change in Net Assets Net Assets - Beginning of Year EXPENSES CHARGES FOR SERVICES $ 17,942,719.10 $ 804,476.70 1,042,288.03 347,305.36 533,314.47 1,944,246.62 133,680.64 1,380,869.15 1,051,551.81 373,894.90 1,237,923.82 98121.73 $ 26,890,392.33 $ 348,324.49 188,148.86 536,473.35 Net Assets - End of Year The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. . 2. EXHIBIT"B" PROGRAM REVENUES OPERATING GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS CAPITAL GRANTS AND CONTRIBUTIONS NET (EXPENSES) REVENUES AND CHANGES IN NET ASSETS $ 13,163,552.63 258,174.10 729,458.92 308,364.89 681,239.66 730,857.69 8,155.86 722,895.22 445,601.59 $ 364,917.17 1,011,298.19 $ 18,424,515.92 $ $ 50,732.00 50,732.00 $ -4,430,841.98 -546,302.60 -312,829.11 -38,940.47 147,925.19 -1,213,388.93 -125,524.78 -657,973.93 -555,218.22 -8,977.73 -38,476.77 -98 121.73 -7,878,671.06 $ 5,713,424.80 32,672.14 2,142,370.91 20,846.13 13,337.97 771,028.00 280,745.46 269 134.08 $ 9,243,559.49 $ 1,364,888.43 20,713,233.72 $ ===2=2=,0=78,a!,,1=2=2=.1=5 -3- EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION BALANCE SHEET GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT"C" ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments Accounts Receivable, Net Interest Taxes State Government Federal Government Other Inventories Prepaid Items GENERAL FUND DISTRICTWIDE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND DEBT SERVICE FUND TOTAL $ 551,979.67 $ 4,835,793.83 $ 1,189,804.00 $ 500,000.00 1,413,309.60 9,468.93 90,709.90 1,845,771.76 318,233.62 1,304.12 15,539.65 23,078.50 4,459.16 443,705.74 6,577,577.50 1,913,309.60 13,928.09 534,415.64 1,845,771.76 318,233.62 1,304.12 15,539.65 23 078.50 Total Assets $ 3,356,086.15 $ 5,283,958.73 $ 2,603,113.60 $===1==1,=24=3=,1=5=8=.4=8 LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES LIABILITIES Accounts Payable $ 403,703.65 $ 2,757.05 $ Salaries and Benefits Payable 2,271,137.16 Payroll Withholdings Payable 38,667.00 Contracts Payable 418,174.15 Retainages Payable 280,255.39 Total Liabilities $ 2,713,507.81 $ 701 186.59 $ FUND BALANCES Reserved for: Bus Replacement Continuation of Federal Programs Debt Service Capital Projects Unreserved Designated for Student Activities Undesignated Reported in: General Fund $ 99,434.25 $ 26,492.40 $ 2,603,113.60 $ 4,582,772.14 82,015.94 434 635.75 Total Fund Balances $ 642 578.34 $ 4,582,772.14 $ 2,603,113.60 $ 406,460.70 2,271,137.16 38,667.00 418,174.15 280,255.39 3 414 694.40 99,434.25 26,492.40 2,603,113.60 4,582,772.14 82,015.94 434,635.75 7 828 464.08 Total Liabilities and Fund Balances $ 3,356,086.15 $ 5,283,958.73 $ 2,603,113.60 $===1=1=,2=4=3=,1=5=8=.4=8 The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -4 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION RECONCILIATION OF THE GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS BALANCE SHEET TO THE STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS JUNE 30, 2008 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 Some of the School District's property tax revenues will be collected after year-end but are not available soon enough to pay for the current period's expenditures. 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 Net Assets of Governmental Activities (Exhibit "A") $ 7,828,464.08 $ 342,786.12 3,263,789.89 974,770.87 21,899,229.40 3,242,818.96 -10,184,134.19 19,539,261.05 110,397.02 -5,400,000.00 $ 22,078,122.15 The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -5- EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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 Other Support Services Food Services Operation Capital Outlay Debt Services Principal Dues and Fees Interest Total Expenditures Excess of Revenues over {under) Expenditures OTHER FINANCING SOURCES Proceeds of Long-Term Capital Related Debt Net Change in Fund Balances Fund Balances - Beginning GENERAL FUND DISTRICTWIDE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND DEBT SERVICE FUND TOTAL $ 5,631,101.39 13,337.97 $ 14,171,678.21 5,074,597.71 536,473.35 37,799.68 269,134.08 $ 25,734,122.39 $ $ 20,846.13 $ 2,142,370.91 158,047.43 84,898.35 5,631,101.39 2,176,555.01 14,171,678.21 5,074,597.71 536,473.35 280,745.46 269,134.08 178,893.56 $ 2,227,269.26 $ 28,140,285.21 $ 17,263,748.92 $ 65,057.05 $ 17,328,805.97 800,376.79 1,042,288.03 347,305.36 533,434.35 1,853,856.95 133,680.64 1,341,971.17 927,218.92 373,894.90 1,155,753.12 21,226.87 179,180.00 3,683,039.69 800,376.79 1,042,288.03 347,305.36 533,434.35 1,853,856.95 133,680.64 1,341,971.17 1,106,398.92 373,894.90 1,155,753.12 3,704,266.56 $ 1,370,000.00 808.13 97,313.60 1,370,000.00 808.13 97,313.60 $ 25,794,756.02 $ 3,927,276.74 $ 1,468,121.73 $ 31,190,154.49 $ -60,633.63 $ -3,748,383.18 $ 759,147.53 $ -3,049,869.28 3,500,000.00 3,500,000.00 $ -60,633.63 $ -248,383.18 $ 759,147.53 $ 450,130.72 703,211.97 4,831.155.32 1,843,966.07 7,378,333.36 Fund Balances - Ending $ 642,578.34 $ 4,582,772.14 $ 2,603,113.60 $ 7,828,464.08 The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -6- EARLY 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, 2008 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 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 equipment sold. Bond proceeds provide current financial resources to Governmental Funds; however, issuing debt increases Long-Term Liabilities in the Statement of Net Assets. In the current period, proceeds were received from: General Obligation Bonds Issued 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 $ 450,130.72 $ 3,675,195.89 -726,720.05 2,948,475.84 114,995.55 -18,713.68 -3,500,000.00 1,370,000.00 Change in Net Assets of Governmental Activities (Exhibit "B") $ 1,364,888.43 The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -7- EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF FIDUCIARY NET ASSETS FIDUCIARY FUNDS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT"G" ASSETS Cash and Cash Equivalents Investments Accounts Receivable, Net Interest and Dividends Other PRIVATE PURPOSE TRUSTS AGENCY FUNDS $ 8,579.65 $ 24,500.00 76.56 43,457.04 16,588.99 Total Assets LIABILITIES Funds Held for Others NET ASSETS Held in Trust for Private Purposes $ 33, 156.21 $ ====6=0,=04=6=.03= $ 60,046.03 $ 33,156.21 Total Liabilities and Net Assets $ 33,156.21 $ ====6=0,=04=6=.0=3 The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -8- EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN FIDUCIARY NET ASSETS FIDUCIARY FUNDS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "H" ADDITIONS Investment Earnings Interest DEDUCTIONS Scholarships Change in Net Assets Net Assets - Beginning Net Assets - Ending PRIVATE PURPOSE TRUSTS $ 1,215.32 $ 690.00 $ 525.32 32,630.89 $ ==33,,,.,=15=6=.2=1 The notes to the basic financial statements are an integral part of this statement. -9 - (This page left intentionally blank) EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 1: DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOL DISTRICT AND REPORTING ENTITY REPORTING ENTITY The Early County Board ofEducation (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 of all 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 Early 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 of internal 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 and fiduciary) are presented. The emphasis of fund financial statements is on major governmental funds, each displayed in a separate column. - 11 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" 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) and Bond Proceeds to be used for the acquisition, construction or renovation of major capital facilities. Debt Service Fund accounts for taxes (sales) legally restricted for the payment ofgeneral longterm principal, interest and paying agent's fees. The School District reports the following fiduciary fund types: Private Purpose Trust funds report trust arrangements under which principal and income may be expended to provide scholarships for selected students and financial assistance to selected students in pursuit toward long-term employment and financial independence. Agency funds account for assets held by the School District as an agent for various funds or individuals. BASIS OF ACCOUNTING The basis ofaccounting determines when transactions are reported on the financial statements. The District-wide governmental 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 ofwhen 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 and grants. On an accrual basis, revenue from property taxes is 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 - 12 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES 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, which are recognized as expenditures to the extent they have matured. Capital asset acquisitions are reported as expenditures in governmental funds. Proceeds ofgeneral 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, insured Federal savings and loan associations or insured chartered building 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 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, - 13 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (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 Early County Board of Commissioners fixed the property tax levy for the 2007 tax digest year (calendar year) on September 17, 2007 (levy date). Taxes were due on December 20, 2007 (lien date). Taxes collected within the current fiscal year or within 60 days after year-end on the 2007 tax digest are reported as revenue in the governmental funds for fiscal year 2008. The Early County Tax Commissioner bills and collects the property taxes for the School District, withholds 2.5% oftaxes collected as a fee for tax collection and remits the balance of taxes collected to the School District. Property tax revenues, at the fund reporting level, during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, for maintenance and operations amounted to $5,631,101.39. The tax millage rate levied for the 2007 tax year (calendar year) for the Early County Board of Education was as follows (a mill equals $1 per thousand dollars of assessed value): School Operations 13.5 mills SALES TAXES Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, at the fund reporting level, during the year amounted to $2,176,555.01 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. - 14 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES INVENTORIES FOOD INVENTORIES On the basic financial statements, inventories of donated 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. 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 ofart. During the fiscal year under review, no events or changes in circumstances affecting a capital asset that may indicate impairment were known to the School District. Capitalization thresholds and estimated useful lives of capital assets reported in the District-wide statements are as follows: Capitalization Policy Estimated Useful Life Land Land Improvements Buildings and Improvements Equipment NIA NIA $ 5,000.00 15 to 30 years $ 5,000.00 40 years $ 5,000.00 10 to 30 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. - 15 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 2: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES In the District-wide and fund financial statements, the School District recognizes bond premiums and discounts, as well as bond issuance costs during the fiscal year bonds are issued. Premiums received on debt issuances are reported as other financing sources while discounts on debt issuances are reported as other financing uses. Issuance costs, whether or not withheld from the actual debt proceeds received, are reported as debt service expenditures. To conform to generally accepted accounting principles, bond premiums and discounts, as well as issuance costs, should be deferred and amortized over the life ofthe bonds using the straight-line method. The effect ofthis deviation is deemed to be immaterial to the fair presentation of the basic financial statements. 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. 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 of money which has not been secured by surety bond, by guarantee ofinsurance, or by collateral. The aggregate ofthe face value of such 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. - 16 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 3: DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS 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 ofthe State of Georgia, (4) Bonds, bills, notes, certificates of indebtedness or other obligations of the counties or municipalities ofthe 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 or securities guaranteed 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, 2008, the bank balances were $7,878,840.37. The amounts ofthe 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 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, 2008, as follows: - 17 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 3: DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS Custodial Credit Risk Category Bank Balance 1 $ 0.00 2 7,677,511.42 3 0.00 Total $7,677,511.42 CATEGORIZATION OF INVESTMENTS The School District's investments as of June 30, 2008, are presented below. All investments are presented by investment type and debt securities are presented by maturity. Investment Type Fair Value Investment Maturity Less Than 1 Year Debt Securities Implicitly Guaranteed Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA) $ 1,413,309.60 $ 1,413,309.60 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. Custodial Credit Risk Custodial credit risk for investments is the risk that, in the event ofthe failure ofthe counterparty to a transaction, the School District will not be able to recover the value ofthe investment or collateral securities that are in the possession ofan outside party. The School District does not have a formal policy for managing custodial credit risk. At June 30, 2008, the fair value ofthe School District's total investments was $1,413,309.60 and this entire amount consisted of Federal National Mortgage Association securities which were not exposed to custodial credit risk. Credit Quality Risk Credit quality risk is the risk that an issuer or other counterparty to an investment will not fulfill its obligations. The School District does not have a formal policy for managing credit quality risk. - 18 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 3: DEPOSITS AND INVESTMENTS The investment subject to credit quality risk is reflected below: Rated Debt Investments Fair Value Quality Ratings Unrated Debt Securities Implicitly Guaranteed Federal National Mortgage Association $ 1,413,309.60 $ 1,413,309.60 Concentration of Credit Risk Concentration of credit risk is the risk of loss attributed to the magnitude of a government's investment in a single issuer. The School District does not have a formal policy for managing concentration of credit risk. More than 5% of the School District's investments are in Federal National Mortgage Association obligations. This investment is 100% of the School District's total investments. 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: - 19 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 5: CAPITAL ASSETS Balances July I. 2007 Increases Decreases Balances June 30. 2008 Governmental Activities Capital Assets, Not Being Depreciated: Land Construction in Progress $ 342,786.12 $ 74.391.44 $ 3,189,398.45 0.00 $ 342,786.12 3,263. 789.89 Total Capital Assets Not Being Depreciated $ 417,177.56 $ 3,189,398.45 $ 0.00 $ 3,606,576.01 Capital Assets Being Depreciated Buildings and Improvements Equipment Land Improvements $21,840,229.40 $ 59,000.00 $21,899,229.40 3,159,426.39 319,968.57 $ 236,576.00 3,242,818.96 867,942.00 106,828.87 974,770.87 Less Accumulated Depreciation for: Buildings and Improvements Equipment Land Improvements 6,785,541.86 2,021,791.94 867,942.66 527,318.17 196,256.88 3,145.00 217,862.32 7,312,860.03 2,000,186.50 871,087.66 Total Capital Assets, Being Depreciated, Net $16,192.321.33 $ -240,922.61 $ 18.713.68 $15.932.685.04 Governmental Activity Capital Assets - Net $16,602,428.82 $ 2,248,475.84 $ 18i713.68 $19,532261.05 Current year depreciation expense by function is as follows: Instruction Support Services Pupil Services General Administration School Administration Maintenance and Operation of Plant Student Transportation Services Food Services $ 476,716.84 $ 2,976.97 3,205.98 65,632.54 28,244.08 90,278.94 190,338.51 59,664.70 $ 726,720.05 Note 6: RESTRICTED ASSETS Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST), general obligation bond proceeds and Qualified Zone Academy Bonds (QZAB) escrow account are restricted assets in the Statement ofNet Assets because their use is limited by applicable bond covenants or statutory provisions. Restricted assets at June 30, 2008, were as follows: - 20 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 6: RESTRICTED ASSETS Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents: Debt Services Capital Acquisitions Restricted Investments: Debt Services District-wide Capital Projects Bond SPLOST Proceeds Debt Service Funds $ 1,189,804.00 $ 3,306,497.23 $ 1,529,296.60 $ 1,413,309.60 Note 7: 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 has obtained commercial insurance for risk ofloss associated with torts, assets, errors or omissions,job related illness or injuries to employees and acts ofGod. The School District has neither significantly reduced coverage for these risks nor incurred losses (settlements) which exceeded the School District's insurance coverage in any of the past three years. 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: 2007 2008 Beginning of Year Liability Claims and Changes in Estimates Claims Paid EndofYear Liability $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 1,223.14 $ 1,223.14 $ 0.00 The School District has purchased surety bonds to provide additional insurance coverage as follows: Position Covered Amount Superintendent Principals Bookkeeper All Employees $ 50,000.00 $ 1,000.00 - $ 2,500.00 $ 14,000.00 $ 100,000.00 - 21 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 8: OPERATING LEASES Early County Board ofEducation has entered into various leases as lessee for copy machines. These leases are considered for accounting purposes to be operating leases. Lease expenditures for the year ended June 30, 2008, for governmental funds amounted to $72,473.00. Future minimum lease payments for these leases are as follows: Year Ending Governmental Funds 2009 2010 2011 $ 45,481.51 31,688.82 13,177.26 Total $ 90,347.59 Note 9: SHORT-TERM DEBT The School District obtains temporary loans in advance of property tax collections, depositing the proceeds in its General Fund. This short-term debt is to provide cash for operations until property tax collections are received by the School District. Article IX, Section V, Paragraph V of the Constitution ofthe State of Georgia limits the aggregate amount ofshort-term debt to 75 percent of the total gross income from taxes collected in the preceding year and requires all short-term debt to be repaid no later than December 31 of the calendar year in which the debt was incurred. Short-term debt activity for the fiscal year is as follows: Temporary Loans Beginning Balance Issued Redeemed Ending Balance $====o==.o==o $ 790,000.00 $ 790,000.00 $====o==.o==o Note 10: LONG-TERM DEBT GENERAL OBLIGATION DEBT OUTSTANDING General Obligation Bonds currently outstanding are as follows: Purpose Interest Rates Amount General Government - Series 2007 General Government - Series QZAB Series 2002B 3.565% 0% $ 3,500,000.00 1,900,000.00 $ 5,400,000.00 - 22 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 10: LONG-TERM DEBT The changes in Long-Term Debt during the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, were as follows: G.O. Bonds Balance July 1. 2007 Governmental Funds Additions Deductions Balance June 30. 2008 Due Within One Year $ 3.270.000.00 $ 3 500.000.00 $ 1.370.000.00 $ 5.400.000.00 $ 1,055.000.00 At June 30, 2008, payments due by fiscal year which includes principal and interest for these items are as follows: Fiscal Year Ended June 30 General Obligation Debt Principal Interest 2009 2010 2011 2016 $ 1,055,000.00 $ 124,775.00 1,290,000.00 87,164.26 1,155,000.00 41,175.76 1,900,000.00 Total Principal and Interest $ 5,400,000.00 $ 253,115.02 Note 11: ON-BEHALF PAYMENTS The School District has recognized revenues and costs in the amount of $433,739.04 for health insurance and retirement contributions paid on the School District's behalf by the following State Agencies. Georgia Department of Education Paid to the Georgia Department of Community Health For Health Insurance of Non-Certified Personnel In the amount of $425,000.13 Paid to the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia For Teachers Retirement System (TRS) Employer's Cost In the amount of $5,717.91 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 $3,021.00 - 23 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 12: SIGNIFICANT COMMITMENTS The following is an analysis ofsignificant outstanding construction or renovation contracts executed by the School District as of June 30, 2008: Project Unearned Executed Contracts Early County High School Gymnasium $ 3,620,120.62 The amount described in this note is 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: POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS Georgia Retiree Health Benefit Fund Plan Description. The School District contributes to the Georgia Retiree Health Benefit Fund ("GRHBF"), a cost-sharing multiple-employer defined benefit postemployment healthcare plan administered by the Department ofCommunity Health. GRHBF provides health insurance benefits to eligible retirees and their qualified beneficiaries. Pursuant to Title 45, Chapter 18 ofthe Official Code ofGeorgia Annotated, the authority to establish and amend the benefit provisions ofthe plan is assigned to the Board of Community Health. The Department of Community Health issues a publicly available financial report that includes financial statements and required supplementary information for GRHBF. That report may be obtained from the Department ofCommunity Health at 2 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30303. Funding Policy. The contribution requirements of plan members and participating employers are established and may be amended by the Board of Community Health. Contributions of plan members or beneficiaries receiving benefits vary based on plan election, dependent coverage, and Medicare eligibility and election. On average, plan members pay approximately twenty-five percent (25%) of the cost of health insurance coverage. - 24 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION NOTES TO THE BASIC FINANCIAL STATEMENTS JUNE 30, 2008 EXHIBIT "I" Note 14: POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS Participating employers are statutorily required to contribute in accordance with the employer contribution rate established by the Board of Community Health. This contribution rate is established to fund both the active and retired employee health insurance plans based on projected pay-as-you-go financing requirements. The employer contribution rates for the combined active and retiree plans for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, were as follows: Teachers Non-Certificated Employees 18.534% of state-based salaries $162.72 per month The School District's contribution to the health insurance plans for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008, was $2,276,835.47, which equaled the required contribution. Note 15: 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. 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 2008 2007 2006 100% 100% 100% $ 1,277,599.00 $ 1,187,973.68 $ 1,140,554.00 - 25 - {This page left intentionally blank) EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION GENERAL FUND SCHEDULE OF REVENUES, EXPENDITURES AND CHANGES IN FUND BALANCES BUDGET AND ACTUAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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 Other Support Services Food Services Operation Capital Outlay Total Expenditures Net Change in Fund Balances Fund Balances - Beginning NONAPPROPRIATED BUDGETS ORIGINAL (1 l FINAL (1) ACTUAL AMOUNTS $ 5,695,000.00 $ 5,695,000.00 $ 5,631,101.39 13,337.97 13,267,975.26 13,728,192.97 14,171,678.21 2,025,160.50 8,423,767.27 5,074,597.71 229,952.00 229,952.00 536,473.35 22,300.00 22,300.00 37,799.68 53,500.00 76,000.00 269,134.08 $ 21,293,887.76 $ 28,175,212.24 $ 25,734,122.39 $ 14,071,408.00 $ 17,260,271.41 $ 17,263,748.92 589,586.00 611,575.00 362,230.00 426,545.00 1,497,222.50 145,000.00 1,261,204.00 842,087.00 179,750.00 1,172,565.00 742,427.00 1,140,273.00 360,684.26 732,013.00 1,577,222.50 145,000.00 1,364,734.00 894,382.00 413,945.00 1,172,565.00 22,500.00 800,376.79 1,042,288.03 347,305.36 533,434.35 1,853,856.95 133,680.64 1,341,971.17 927,218.92 373,894.90 1,155,753.12 21,226.87 $ 21,159,172.50 $ 25,826,017.17 $ 25,794,756.02 $ 134,715.26 $ 2,349,195.07 $ -60,633.63 703 211.97 703 211.97 703 211.97 Fund Balances - Ending $ 837,927.23 $ 3,052,407.04 $ ===64=2=,5=7=8.=34= 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. 27 EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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 Early Reading First Pass-Through From Georgia Department of Education Career and Technical Education - Basic Grants to States English Language Acquisition Grants Enhancing Education Through Technology Program Improving Teacher Quality State Grants Migrant Education Reading First State Grants Rural Education State Grants for Innovative Programs Title I Grants to Local Educational Agencies Twenty-First Century Community Learning Centers Total U.S. Department of Education Labor, U. S. Department of Pass-Through From Georgia Department of Labor Workforce Investment Act Youth Activities Total Federal Financial Assistance N/A = Not Available CFDA NUMBER PASSTHROUGH ENTITY ID NUMBER EXPENDITURES IN PERIOD 10.553 10.555 NIA N/A $ $ (2) 1 055 848.94 1,055,848.94 10.550 N/A 30 533.47 $ 1,086,382.41 84.027 84.173 NIA $ N/A $ 585,281.00 30 470.23 615,751.23 84.359 84.048 84.365 84.318 84.367 . 84.011 84.357 84.358 84.298 84.010 84.287 1,070,357.64 N/A 37,372.81 N/A 185.53 N/A 79,166.60 NIA 222,298.00 NIA 34,358.27 NIA 410,377.63 NIA 75,974.00 N/A 5,115.00 NIA 1,238,358.17 N/A 299 679.75 $ 4,088,994.63 17.259 N/A $ 6 729.20 $ =====5=,1=8=2,.,.10=6=.2=4= - 28 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF EXPENDITURES OF FEDERAL AWARDS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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 ($234,245.24) were not maintained separately and are included in the 2008 National School Lunch Program. 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 Early 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. - 29 - EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF STATE REVENUE YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 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 Grades (6-8) Program Middle School (6-8) Program High School General Education (9-12) Program Vocational Laboratory (9-12) Program Students with Disabilities- Categories I-IV Gifted Student - Category VI Remedial Education Program Alternative Education Program 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 Sparsity Nursing Services Vocational Supervisors Mid-term Adjustment Hold-Harmless Education Equalization Funding Grant Food Services Vocational Education Amended Formula Adjustment Other State Programs Drivers Education Grant Graduation Coach - High School Graduation Coach - Middle School Health Insurance Preschool Handicapped Program Remedial Summer School Residential Treatment Facility Teachers Retirement Virtual Schools State Grant Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services Public School Employees Retirement See notes to the basic financial statements. - 30- SCHEDULE "3" GOVERNMENTAL FUND TYPE GENERAL FUND $ 593,935.97 620,726.00 320,025.00 1,404,830.00 751,040.00 599,002.00 438,235.00 35,617.00 1,563,423.00 1,370,493.00 416,199.00 1,237,511.00 358,880.00 219,122.00 127,890.00 259,544.00 82,597.00 47,093.00 437,107.00 571,599.00 601,363.00 372,866.00 50,732.00 20,000.00 57,875.00 8,663.00 25,301.00 771,028.00 61,552.00 128,337.00 -224, 114.00 138,150.20 21,048.00 21,048.00 425,000.13 52,119.00 1,353.00 175,399.00 5,717.91 350.00 3 021.00 EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF APPROVED LOCAL OPTION SALES TAX PROJECTS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 SCHEDULE "4" PROJECT ORIGINAL ESTIMATED COST(1) CURRENT ESTIMATED COSTS(2) AMOUNT EXPENDED IN CURRENT YEAR(3)(4) AMOUNT EXPENDED IN PRIOR YEARS (3) (4) PROJECT STATUS Acquisition, construction and equipping of new school building and facilities, including a high school physical education facility, adding to, renovating, improving and equipping existing school buildings and facilities, including middle school physical education facilities, making certain technology improvements and acquiring any property necessary or desirable therefor, both real and personal, including school buses. $ 7,800,000.00 $ 7,800,000.00 $ 1,719,355.77 $ 6,080,644.23 Completed Acquisition, construction and equipping of new school building and facilities, including a high school physical education facility, adding to, renovating, improving and equipping existing school buildings and facilities, including the football stadium and a new roof on the high school building, making certain technology and safety improvements, making certain paving, signage, and landscaping improvements, purchasing maintenance vehicles and buses, purchasing textbooks and band instruments, acquiring any property necessary or desirable therefor, both real and personal. 13,000,000.00 13,000,000.00 2,207,920.97 Ongoing $ 20,800,000.00 $ 20.aoo1000.oo $ 3,9271276.74 $ 6,080,644.23 (1) The School District's original cost estimate as specified in the resolution calling for the imposition of the Local Option Sales Tax. (2) The School District's current estimate of total cost for the projects. Includes all cost from project inception to completion. (3) The voters of Early County approved the imposition of a 1% sales tax to fund the above projects and retire associated debt. Amounts expended for these projects may include sales tax proceeds, state, local property taxes and/or other funds over the life of the projects. (4) In addition to the expenditures shown above, the School District has incurred interest to provide advance funding for the above projects as follows: Prior Years $ 286,847.00 Current Year 97,313.60 Total $ ====38=4..,,1.,.s.o....,so= See notes to the basic financial statements. -31 - (This page left intentionally blank) EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION GENERAL FUND- QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION PROGRAM (QBE) ALLOTMENTS AND EXPENDITURES - BY PROGRAM YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 SCHEDULE "5" DESCRIPTION ALLOTMENTS FROM GEORGIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (1) (2) ELIGIBLE QBE PROGRAM COSTS SALARIES OPERATIONS TOTAL 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 Grades (6-8) 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 Category V Gifted Student - Category VI Remedial Education Program Alternative Education Program 696,761.00 $ 379,455.00 1,633,058.00 842,569.00 706,120.00 683,742.55 $ 255,039.94 1,681,326.45 1,062,606.84 741,040.13 492,532.00 36,750.00 1,814,092.00 1,588,944.00 487,800.00 1,445,409.00 815,314.65 2,174,493.88 2,466,287.45 584,598.60 975,117.48 388,898.35 121,761.18 413,889.00 242,983.00 147 488.00 179,257.19 107,905.60 268,534.73 2,813.13 $ 3,927.68 20,159.27 10,687.27 20,753.94 5,270.75 52,316.00 30,434.24 109,274.93 51,559.83 52,381.15 12,251.50 35,034.94 945.32 134.30 6,119.39 2 378.02 686,555.68 258,967.62 1,701,485.72 1,073,294.11 761,794.07 820,585.40 52,316.00 2,204,928.12 2,575,562.38 636,158.43 52,381.15 987,368.98 423,933.29 122,706.50 134.30 185,376.58 107,905.60 270,912.75 TOTAL DIRECT INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAMS $ 10,927,850.00 $ 12,505,925.02 $ 416,441.66 $ 12,922,366.68 Media Center Program Staff and Professional Development 299,848.00 54 537.00 292,104.14 21 595.28 37,531.98 40051.74 329,636.12 61 647.02 TOTAL QBE FORMULA FUNDS $ 11,282,235.00 $ 12,819,624.44 $ 494,025.38 $ 13,313,649.82 (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. - 33 - 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 June 22, 2009 Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor Members of the General Assembly Members of the State Board of Education and Superintendent and Members of the Early 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 Early County Board of Education as of and for the year ended June 30, 2008, which collectively comprise Early County Board ofEducation's basic financial statements and have issued our report thereon dated June 22, 2009. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America 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 Early County Board of Education'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 Early County Board of Education's internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Early 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 control deficiencies, that adversely affect the Early County Board of Education's ability to initiate, authorize, record, process, or report financial data reliably in accordance with generally accepted 2008YB-10 accounting principles such that there is more than a remote likelihood that a misstatement of the Early County Board ofEducation's financial statements that is more than inconsequential will not be prevented or detected by the Early 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 Early 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 Early 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 ofEarly County Board ofEducation in a separate letter dated June 22, 2009. This report is intended solely for the information and use of management, members of the Early County Board of Education, others within the entity, 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. ~ ~ ~ - . a Respectfully submitted, Russell W. Hinton, CPA, CGFM State Auditor RWH:as 2008YB-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 June 22, 2009 Honorable Sonny Perdue, Governor Members of the General Assembly Members of the State Board of Education and Superintendent and Members ofthe Early County Board of Education REPORT ON COMPLIANCE WITH REQUIREMENTS APPLICABLE TO EACH MAJOR PROGRAM AND ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER COMPLIANCE IN ACCORDANCE WITH 0MB CIRCULAR A-133 Ladies and Gentlemen: Compliance We have audited the compliance of Early County Board of Education with the types of compliance requirements described in the U.S. Office of Management and Budget (0MB) Circular A-133 Compliance Supplement that are applicable to each ofits major Federal programs for the year ended June 30, 2008. Early County Board of Education's major Federal programs are identified in the Summary of Auditor's Results Section of the accompanying Schedule ofFindings and Questioned Costs. Compliance with the requirements of laws, regulations, contracts and grants applicable to each of its major Federal programs is the responsibility of Early County Board of Education's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on Early County Board of Education's compliance based on our audit. We conducted our audit ofcompliance in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America; the standards applicable to financial audits contained in Government Auditing Standards, issued by the Comptroller General ofthe United States; and 0MB Circular A133, Audits of States, 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 Early County Board of Education's compliance with those requirements and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the 2008SA-10 circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. Our audit does not provide a legal determination on Early County Board ofEducation's compliance with those requirements. In our opinion, the Early County Board of Education 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, 2008. Internal Control Over Compliance The management of Early 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 Early 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 ofexpressing an opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over compliance. Accordingly, we do not express an opinion on the effectiveness of the Early 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 of compliance 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 of a Federal program will not be prevented or detected by the entity's internal control. Our consideration of the 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. 2008SA-10 This report is intended solely for the information and use of management, members of the Early County Board ofEducation, 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, ~w.-1:..k Russell W. Hinton, CPA, CGFM State Auditor RWH:as 2008SA-10 SECTION III AUDITEE'S RESPONSE TO PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AUDITEE'S RESPONSE SUMMARY SCHEDULE OF PRIOR YEAR FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 PRIOR YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS No matters were reported. PRIOR YEAR FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS FINDING CONTROL NUMBER AND STATUS FA-6491-07-01 Previously Reported Corrective Action Implemented SECTION IV FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 I SUMMARY OF AUDITOR'S RESULTS 1. Type of Report Issued on the Financial Statements The auditor's opinion on the Early 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 Early County Board of Education did not disclose any significant deficiencies related to the financial statements. 3. Noncompliance Material to the Financial Statements The audit ofthe Early County Board ofEducation disclosed no instances ofnoncompliance that were deemed to be material to the financial statements. 4. Significant Deficiencies in Internal Control Over Major Programs The audit report for the Early 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 Early 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 Early County Board of Education'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 84.287 Twenty-First Century Community Leaming Centers 84.357 Reading First State Grants 84.359 Early Reading First 8. Type "A" Program Dollar Threshold The dollar threshold for type "A" programs was $300,000.00. 9. Low Risk Auditee The Early County Board of Education qualified as a low risk auditee as defined by Section .530 of 0MB Circular A-133. - 1- EARLY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION SCHEDULE OF FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 2008 II FINANCIAL STATEMENT FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS No matters were reported. III FEDERAL AWARD FINDINGS AND QUESTIONED COSTS No matters were reported. -2-