Note 1:
FORM OF GOVERNMENT

The Borough of Somerville (“Borough”) operates under the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:60-1 et seq., which provides for the election of a mayor to serve a term of four years and a council of six members serving three-year terms. At its annual meeting, the council elects a president of the council who shall preside at all its meetings when the mayor is not present. The mayor is the head of the municipal government and the council is the legislative body. The Borough has adopted an administrative code, which provides for the delegation of a portion of executive responsibilities to an administrator and the organization of the council into standing committees to oversee various Borough activities.

Note 2:
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
A.
Reporting Entity

Except as noted below, the financial statements of the Borough include every board, body, officer or commission supported and maintained wholly or in part by funds appropriated by the Borough, as required by N.J.S.A. 40A:5-5. Accordingly, the financial statements of the Borough do not include the operations of the municipal library.

B.
Description of Funds

The accounting policies of the Borough conform to the accounting principles applicable to municipalities that have been prescribed by the Division of Local Government Services, Department of Community Affairs, State of New Jersey. Such principles and practices are designed primarily for determining compliance with legal provisions and budgetary restrictions and as a means of reporting on the stewardship of public officials with respect to public funds. Under this regulatory-basis of accounting, the Borough accounts for its financial transactions through the following separate funds:

Current Fund - resources and expenditures for governmental operations of a general nature, including Federal and State grant funds, except as otherwise noted.

Trust Fund - receipts, custodianship and disbursement of funds in accordance with the purposes for which each reserve was created. Pursuant to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 40A:4-39, the financial transactions of the following funds and accounts are also reported within the Trust Fund:

  • Trust Assessment Fund
  • Animal Control Trust Fund
  • Unemployment Compensation Insurance Trust Fund
  • Dedicated Law Enforcement Trust Fund
  • Developer's Escrow Fund
  • Payroll Fund
  • Community Development Block Grant Fund

General Capital Fund - resources, including Federal and State Grants in aid of construction, and expenditures for the acquisition of general capital facilities, other than those acquired through the Current Fund, including the status of bonds and notes authorized for said purposes.

Sewer Utility Operating and Capital Funds – account for the operations and acquisition of capital facilities of the municipally-owned Sewer Utility.

Parking Utility Operating and Capital Funds – account for the operations and capital facilities of the municipally-owned Parking Utility.

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