HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity of Lawrence - Public Financial ReportP O P U LA R A N N U A L
F I N A N C I A L R E P O R T
FISCAL YEAR
2020
The City has operated under the Commission-City Manager form of government since
1951. The five-member Commission is elected at large to either a two- or four-year
term with the two winning the most votes getting four-year terms and the one with the
third most votes getting the two-year term. Each year the Commission chooses one of
its members to serve as Mayor. The Commission is responsible for policy making,
passing Ordinances, adopting an annual budget, appointing citizens to committees,
and hiring the City Manager. The City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day
operations of the City, including hiring all personnel.
I N T R O D U C T I O N P A G E 0 2
About Lawrence
Governmental activities - General
Government, Public Safety, Public
Works, Health, Social Services, Culture
and Recreation, Tourism, Economic
Development
Business-type activities - Water and
Sewer, Sanitation, Stormwater, Public
Parking, Golf Course
Component units - Lawrence-Douglas
County Housing Authority, Lawrence
Memorial Hospital, Lawrence Memorial
Hospital Endowment Association,
Lawrence Public Library
This report communicates the financial
standing of the City of Lawrence, Kansas
to the general public. The content of this
report is taken from the City's Annual
Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR).
The ACFR must satisfy both Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles and
applicable legal requirements. The PAFR
takes information from the ACFR about the
Primary Government, and presents it in a
more user friendly format.
The City of Lawrence reports financial
information from three categories of
activities which include Governmental
activities, Business-type activities, and
Component units. The following are
included within each category:
For the purposes of this report we have
combined each category. For more
information on any aspect of this report
please review the full ACFR at
https://lawrenceks.org/finance/.
Popular Annual Financial Report
(PAFR)
I N T R O D U C T I O N P A G E 0 3
The City of Lawrence adopted a new strategic plan framework with five (5) outcome
areas and six (6) commitment areas. This plan was guided by our community.
In response to COVID-19, the City stood up an Emergency Winter Shelter program. This
program provided more than 7,600 overnight stays during the winter months.
In 2020, the City was notified by the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA)
that it had received the "Triple Crown" for FY19. The GFOA administers three annual
awards recognizing excellence in financial reporting (Certificate of Achievement for
Excellence in Financial Reporting, Distinguished Budget Presentation, and Popular
Annual Financial Report) and the City received all three awards.
There were two (2) projects that participated in the City's Economic Development
Catalyst program and were completed in 2020 (VanTrust Phase I and Plasticon Phase I
& II expansion). There are another five (5) projects that have been approved through the
Catalyst program but were not completed by Dec. 31, 2020.
In 2020, the City completed the first year of a rate model for solid waste and stormwater
operations. This will help the City provide better long-term planning and more closely
align the costs of providing services with the rates being charged to customers.
A new police facility was constructed in FY2020, which allowed a majority of our Police
Department to be housed together in one location.
A substantial rehabilitation was also completed to Fire Station No. 1 which resides in our
downtown and was built as the City's main fire station in 1950. It was updated to
accommodate current-day operational needs, improve accessibility, and enhance the
space used by the Senior Resource Center.
I N T R O D U C T I O N P A G E 0 4
K E Y A C T I V I T I E S F O R 2 0 2 0
In 2020, the Total Net Position for the City of Lawrence was $421,001,000 compared to
$420,972,000 in 2019. As mentioned before, increases in net position show that the
financial health of the city is improving. Additionally, between 2019 and 2020 the net
position improved by approximately $29 thousand.
Deferred Inflows and Outflows of Resource -
Deferred inflows and outflows of resources represent activities recorded now, that will be
reported as an expense or revenue at a future date. These activities have already been
paid for but will not be recognized in the financial statements until a future event occurs.
Because the money has already been allocated, they are recorded as deferred outflows
or inflows of resources. For example, the property and vehicle tax revenues remain as a
deferred inflow of resources and will become an inflow in the year for which the taxes are
levied. The largest source of deferred outflow of resources is the City's pension and other
post-employment benefits.
As noted earlier, Net Position may serve over time as a useful indicator of the City’s
financial position. Currently, assets and deferred outflows of resources exceeded
liabilities and deferred inflows of resources by about $421 million at December 31, 2020.
The City’s net position increased by $29 thousand. Governmental activities decreased
net position by $16.85 million while business-type activities increased net position by
$16.87 million in 2020.
N E T P O S I T I O N P A G E 0 5
Statement of Net Position
The Statement of Net Position
presents information on all the
City’s assets and liabilities,
deferred outflows, and deferred
inflows with the difference
between the two reported as Net
Position. Over time, increases or
decreases in net position may
serve as a useful indicator of
whether the financial
position of the City is improving
or deteriorating. Based on this
criteria, the City’s financial position continues to improve.
Capital Assets
Capital assets are land, buildings and systems, improvements, construction in
progress, machinery and equipment, park and recreation facilities, storm sewers,
roads, bridges, water, and sewer lines. The City’s net investment in capital assets for
the year ended December 31, 2020 was $337.6 million.
N E T P O S I T I O N P A G E 0 6
$5,775,000 GO Bonds, series 2020-A
$2,325,000 GO Bonds, series 2020-B
$2,445,000 GO Temporary Notes, series 2020-I
Municipalities can issue debt called general obligation (GO) bonds to pay for public
improvement projects. The issuing municipality assures the bonds will be paid back
based on their ability to raise funds, including through taxation. The City of Lawrence
has issued three different general obligation bonds in 2020 including:
The proceeds from each of these bond issuances will be used for streets, public
buildings and facilities, storm sewer systems and other public improvements within the
City.
G E N E R A L O B L I G A T I O N B O N D S P A G E 0 7
Property Tax -
In 2020 Property taxes during
fiscal year 2020 increased by
$5.1 million or 13.48%, due
mainly to increases in assessed
valuation and special
assessment adjustments.
Other Taxes -
These taxes are primarily made up of sales, franchise, and motor vehicle taxes. Other taxes
decreased $4.1 million or -7.36%, driven primarily by sales tax reductions due to businesses
closing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Governmental activities capital grants and
contributions increased $3.01 million or 138.24%, due mainly to FAA funding for runway
projects at the airport.
R E V E N U E P A G E 0 8
Charges for Services -
Fees, permits and fines make up the majority of charges for services. This revenue decreased
$1.6 million or 1.94% for the primary government
Property Tax
40%
Sales Tax
48%
Franchise Tax
8%
Motor Vehicle Tax
4%
Where Does Tax Money Come From?
Investment Income -
This revenue comes from activities like interest payments, dividends, and capital gains. This
decreased by 46.5% from 2019 to 2020.
R E V E N U E P A G E 0 9
Operating Grants -
These are grants to the city for a variety of purposes. The increase in operating grants
of $4.9 million or 46.30%.
Other -
These revenues include reimbursements, contributions, other miscellaneous revenue
such as repayment of land, and Community Development Block Grants.
Capital Grants and Contributions -
These grants are made
available to government entities to
complete specific capital projects.
Governmental activities capital
grants and contributions increased
$3.01 million or 138.24%, due mainly
to FAA funding for runway projects
at the airport.
E X P E N S E S P A G E 1 0
We are at the highest point we've been since 2002. Congratulations to everyone!
Total expenses for the City were $200.24 million in fiscal year 2020, an increase of
$13.4 million or 9.33%, when compared to fiscal year 2019. This increase is primarily
due to a $3.14million expenditures in Public Safety, as well as a $1.7 million increase
in community services,.
General Government
15%
Public Safety
29%
Public Works
11%
Community Services
1%
Culture and Recreation
7%
Economic Development & Tourism
2%
Interest on long-term debt
2%
Water and Sewer
24%
Sanitation
7%
Nonmajor business-type
activities
2%
Where Does the Money Go?