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Quality of life projects will include continued emphasis on waste <br />recycling, parks development, public streets and other infra- <br />structure improvements and replacement. <br />Departmental Service Improvements <br />Plann;nq, Zoning, inspection and Redevelopment <br />The City did restructure its inspection, planning and economic <br />development responsibilities by combining these functions into <br />one department. The merger does permit better management, super- <br />vision, and co-ordination. In addition to a more £avorable <br />cost-benefit, the City has also improved its service to the <br />citizens and the business community by better coordinating these <br />closely related functioas. <br />Financial System Computerization <br />A study conducted by the Finance Department and reviewed by the <br />city management did determine that expenditures for data process- <br />ing services could be reduced substantially. <br />The City's financial system was brought in-house and placed on <br />micro-computers within a local area network. The system has been <br />found to not only be more responsive and efficient but the costs <br />were reduced by nearly $50,000 per year. <br />Financial Information <br />Accounting System and Budyetary Control <br />The accounting system provides for a complete, self-balancing <br />account group for each fund of the City. Accounting records are <br />maintained on the modified accrual basis for the governmental <br />type funds and trust and agency fund, and the accrual basis of <br />accounting is utilized for the proprietary type funds, as defined <br />in the notes to the financial statements. <br />In developing and altering the City's accounting system, <br />consideration is given to the adeguacy of internal accounting <br />controls. Internal accounting controls are designed to provide <br />reasonable, but not absolute, assurance regarding the <br />safeguarding of assets against loss from unauthorized use or <br />disposition and the reliability of financial records for <br />preparing financial statements and maintaining accountability for <br />assets. The concept of reasonable assurance recognizes the cost <br />of a control should not exceed the benefits likely to be derived, <br />and the evaluation of costs and benefits requires estimates and <br />judgments by management. All internal control evaluations occur <br />within the above framework. We believe that the City's internal <br />accounting controls adequately safeguard assets and provide <br />reasonable assurance of proper recording of financial <br />transactions. <br />4 <br />