OSA Weekly Update - 8/23/2024

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

2. Deadline: TIF Excess Increment

3. Released: Fire Relief Association Reporting Dashboard

4. Meeting: Fire Relief Association Working Group

5. Avoiding Pitfall: Uncashed Checks

6. Job Openings

1. Message from Auditor Blaha

2. Deadline: TIF Excess Increment

3. Released: Fire Relief Association Reporting Dashboard

A reporting status dashboard for fire relief associations is now available on the OSA website. The dashboard shows a relief association’s status in meeting its requirements with the OSA to qualify for fire state aid, and to view the status of relief association report submissions and the OSA’s review of the submitted reports.

The new dashboard allows you to check at any time whether we've received all required reports from a fire relief association and see geographically where reports have been filed or are outstanding.

4. Meeting: Fire Relief Association Working Group

The State Auditor’s Fire Relief Association Working Group met on August 21. The group discussed the current statutory minimum retirement age for relief association members and whether there should be an option of earlier withdrawals. Discussion on this topic will be continued during the next meeting on September 5. The Working Group also considered whether a relief association’s board of trustees should have a formal role in approving minimum service requirements established by the fire department.

Meeting recordings and materials are available on the Working Group page of the OSA website.

Political subdivisions sometimes issue checks that are never cashed or are returned as undeliverable. Under Minnesota’s Unclaimed Property Laws, uncashed and returned checks must generally be reported to the Minnesota Department of Commerce after three years. More information is available on the Minnesota Department of Commerce website.

The full Avoiding Pitfall is available on the OSA website.