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-3- ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND MANAGEMENT JUDGMENTS Accounting estimates are an integral part of the financial statements prepared by management and are based on management’s knowledge and experience about past and current events and assumptions about future events. Certain accounting estimates are particularly sensitive because of their significance to the financial statements and because of the possibility that future events affecting them may differ significantly from those expected. The most sensitive estimates affecting the financial statements were: • Depreciation – Management’s estimates of depreciation expense are based on the estimated useful lives of the assets. • Compensated Absences – Management’s estimate is based on current rates of pay and unused compensated absences balances. • Pension Benefits – The City has recorded amounts and activities for pension benefits. Actuarial estimates of the net pension balances are calculated using actuarial methodologies described in GASB Statement No. 68. The actuarial calculations include significant assumptions, including projected changes, investment returns, retirement ages, proportionate s hare, and employee turnover. We evaluated the key factors and assumptions used by management to develop these estimates in determining that they are reasonable in relation to the basic financial statements taken as a whole. Certain financial statement disclosures are particularly sensitive because of their significance to financial statement users. The disclosures included in the notes to the basic financial statements related to pension benefits are particularly sensitive, due to the materiality of the liabilities, and the large and complex estimates involved in determining the disclosures. The financial statement disclosures are neutral, consistent, and clear. DIFFICULTIES ENCOUNTERED IN PERFORMING THE AUDIT We encountered no significant difficulties in dealing with management in performing and completing our audit. CORRECTED AND UNCORRECTED MISSTATEMENTS Professional standards require us to accumulate all known and likely misstatements identified during the audit, other than those that are clearly trivial, and communicate them to the appropriate level of management. There were no misstatements detected as a result of audit procedures that were material, either individually or in the aggregate, to each opinion unit’s financial statements taken as a whole. DISAGREEMENTS WITH MANAGEMENT For purposes of this report, a disagreement with management is a financial accounting, reporting, or auditing matter, whether or not resolved to our satisfaction, that could be significant t o the financial statements or the auditor’s report. We are pleased to report that no such disagreements arose during the course of our audit.