Delaware County, Indiana

Postemployment Benefits Other Than Pensions (OPEB)

For purposes of measuring the total OPEB liability, deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources related to OPEB and OPEB expense, the County OPEB Plan recognizes benefit payments when due and payable in accordance with the benefit terms.

Pensions

For purposes of measuring the net pension liability or asset, deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources related to pensions expense, information about the fiduciary net position of the Sheriff Retirement Plans and the Indiana Public Employees' Retirement Fund (the Plans) and additions to and deductions from the plans' fiduciary net position have been determined on the same basis as they are reported by the plans. For this purpose, plan contributions are recognized as of employer payroll paid dates and benefit payments and refunds are recognized when due and payable in accordance with benefit terms. Pension investments are reported at fair value.

Budgetary Information

Annual budgets are adopted on the cash basis which is not consistent with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. All annual appropriations lapse at fiscal year-end.

On or before August 31, the County Auditor submits to the County Council a proposed operating budget for the year commencing the following January 1. Prior to adoption the budget is advertised and public hearings are conducted by the County Council to obtain taxpayer comments. In September of each year, the County Council through the passage of an ordinance approves the budget for the next year. Copies of the budget ordinance and the advertisement for funds for which property taxes are levied are sent to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance. The budget becomes legally enacted after the County Auditor receives approval of the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance.

Indiana law restricts the County's maximum tax levy, with certain adjustments and expectations. If the advertised budget, for funds for which property taxes are levied or for which highway use taxes are received, exceeds the spending and tax limits of the state control laws, an excess levy may be granted by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance

The Primary Government's management cannot transfer budgeted appropriations between object classifications of a budget without approval of the County Council. The Indiana Department of Local Government Finance must approve any revisions to the appropriations for any fund or any department of General Fund and other adopted budgets. The legal level of budgetary control is by object and department within the fund for the General Fund and by object within the fund for all other budgeted fund.

Expenditures did not exceed appropriations for any funds or any departments within the General Fund, which required legally-approved budgets.