Jackson Township (Ocean)

1511 Please see Color Key at bottom of sheet for limits on answers

Answer Question Comments

17 Yes The Local Finance Board recently adopted new rules, outlined in Local Finance Notice 2013-17, expanding municipalities' ability to purchase goods and services with procurement cards. The most significant change is the elimination of the prior per-transaction monetary limitation on P-Cards (15% of local unit's bid threshold) where a Qualified Purchasing Agent manages a local unit's P-Card program. Has your CFO, head purchasing official or other appropriate municipal official evaluated and discussed with your governing body (or an appropriate subcommittee thereof) how and whether a procurement card program could benefit the municipality or, if a procurement card program already exists, whether the program complies with the new regulations?

18 Yes Grant programs can create a significant burden on a municipality's cash flow if program expenses are either not timely reimbursed or are charged to other operating accounts instead of to the grant. Are all grant revenues, along with their corresponding appropriations, reviewed at least quarterly to determine that all program expenses have 1) been filed for reimbursement and 2) have been properly charged to the grant, with follow up communication to grantor agencies in instances where payments are delayed?

Budget Preparation and Presentation - BP

19 Yes Has your municipality fully and accurately disclosed in the "Budget Message" section of your CY2013/SFY 2014 budget the following: Revenues at Risk; Non-Recurring Cost Reductions; Anticipated CY2014/SFY 2015 Appropriation Increases; and Structural Balance Offsets as detailed in Local Finance Notice 2011-37?

20 Yes In preparing your annual budget it is important for both the governing body and public to understand the concept of surplus and how it accumulates (or declines) over the years. A formal policy regarding surplus serves as a basis for decisions concerning future financial solvency, and the lack of a policy could lead bond rating agencies to downgrade your municipality's credit rating. In developing said surplus policy your CFO should analyze and explain at least a five-year trend of surplus; illustrating the factors causing each annual increase or decrease. A surplus policy with realistic and sustainable goals can then be determined. Does your municipality have a written policy goal for the amount of surplus available in support of municipal operations, and is this goal evaluated annually?