State Auditor's E-Update - 3/25/2022

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

2. Reminder: Signing Pension Reporting Forms

3. Due: 2021 Annual Financial Reporting by March 31, 2022

4. Deadline: County TIF Forms Due March 31st

5. Avoiding Pitfall: Security for Checks

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

I am pleased to share with you our latest analysis, The State of Main Street: Local Response to Global Crisis. In it, we examined our most recent city, township, and county data by analyzing trends and holding a series of listening sessions with local government officials, staff, and residents. The analysis may be found on the OSA website.

You may view the presentation from earlier this week on YouTube.

Thank you to all who attended our listening sessions and provided feedback. Because of you, we are all better equipped to make decisions that lead to stronger communities.

2. Reminder: Signing Pension Reporting Forms

Relief association reporting form submissions are not complete until they are signed by all required form signers. Reporting forms can be signed electronically in the State Auditor’s Form Entry System (SAFES), or paper signature pages can be submitted by email, fax, or mail. Detailed instructions for the SAFES electronic signature process are provided in the “Reporting Checklist for Volunteer Fire Relief Associations” that can be accessed on the OSA website.

3. Due: 2021 Annual Financial Reporting by March 31, 2022

For cities and townships reporting on a cash basis of accounting, the Reporting Form (CTAS: State Auditor Data File) and Financial Statements or Audit are due by March 31, 2022.

The 2021 Annual Financial Reporting Form (Reporting Form) is now available through the State Auditors Form Entry System (SAFES). You will need a SAFES User ID and Password to access the Form. If you need a SAFES User ID and Password please send an email to SAFES@osa.state.mn.us with your name, title, entity, public mailing address, email, and phone number.

Instructions on completing the Reporting Form can be found on the OSA website.

CTAS Users are now also able to submit the State Auditor Data File and Financial Statements right from CTAS. Instructions can be found on the OSA website.

4. Deadline: County TIF Forms Due March 31st

The County TIF Information Form is due from counties by March 31, 2022. The form captures information for 2021 regarding a county's TIF administrative activities, distributions of tax increment, and transfers of the TIF enforcement deduction. The information assists the Office of the State Auditor in its oversight of TIF authorities. Instructions on accessing the form in SAFES were emailed to county representatives on January 31, 2022.

If you have any questions, please contact us at TIF@osa.state.mn.us.

5. Avoiding Pitfall: Security for Checks

Public entities need to provide for the physical security of their blank checks. Check stock should be secured on a daily basis. For entities that print their own checks, this includes removing blank check forms from the printers and securely locking up all blank check stock.

For entities using checkbooks, all blank checks and the checkbook itself, when not in use, should be locked in a secure location. Security precautions should also be taken for all signature stamps, signature plates, and signature software.

This Avoiding Pitfall is available on our website.