1.1                          A bill for an act
  1.2             relating to cities and towns; requiring copies of 
  1.3             audited financial statements to be provided to members 
  1.4             of the city council and the mayor, or to the town 
  1.5             board members, and presented at a regularly scheduled 
  1.6             meeting of the city or town's governing body; amending 
  1.7             Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 471.697, subdivision 
  1.8             1. 
  1.9   BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
  1.10     Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1996, section 471.697, 
  1.11  subdivision 1, is amended to read: 
  1.12     Subdivision 1.  [ALL OPERATIONS EXCEPT SOME HOSPITALS, 
  1.13  NURSING HOMES.] In any city with a population of more than 2,500 
  1.14  according to the latest federal census, or town with a 
  1.15  population of more than 2,500 according to the latest federal 
  1.16  census with an annual revenue of $500,000 or more, the city 
  1.17  clerk, chief financial officer, town clerk, or town 
  1.18  clerk-treasurer shall: 
  1.19     (a) Prepare a financial report covering the city's or 
  1.20  town's operations including operations of municipal hospitals 
  1.21  and nursing homes, liquor stores, and public utility commissions 
  1.22  during the preceding fiscal year after the close of the fiscal 
  1.23  year.  Cities shall publish the report or a summary of the 
  1.24  report, in a form as prescribed by the state auditor, in a 
  1.25  qualified newspaper of general circulation in the city or, if 
  1.26  there is none, post copies in three of the most public places in 
  1.27  the city, no later than 30 days after the report is due in the 
  2.1   office of the state auditor.  The report shall contain financial 
  2.2   statements and disclosures which present the city's or town's 
  2.3   financial position and the results of city or town operations in 
  2.4   conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.  The 
  2.5   report shall include such information and be in such form as may 
  2.6   be prescribed by the state auditor; 
  2.7      (b) File the financial report in the clerk's or financial 
  2.8   officer's office for public inspection and present it to the 
  2.9   city council or town board after the close of the fiscal year.  
  2.10  One copy of the financial report shall be furnished to the state 
  2.11  auditor after the close of the fiscal year; and 
  2.12     (c) Submit to the state auditor audited financial 
  2.13  statements which have been attested to by a certified public 
  2.14  accountant, public accountant, or the state auditor within 180 
  2.15  days after the close of the fiscal year, except that the state 
  2.16  auditor may upon request of a city or town and a showing of 
  2.17  inability to conform, extend the deadline.  The state auditor 
  2.18  may accept this report in lieu of the report required in clause 
  2.19  (b).  A copy of the audited financial statement along with any 
  2.20  management letter or other written findings or comments by the 
  2.21  auditor must be provided to each city council member and the 
  2.22  mayor, or to each town board member, no later than 30 days after 
  2.23  the report is required to be submitted to the state auditor and 
  2.24  presented at a scheduled meeting of the city council or town 
  2.25  board prior to October 31 of the year in which the report is 
  2.26  submitted to the state auditor. 
  2.27     A municipal hospital or nursing home established before 
  2.28  June 6, 1979, whose fiscal year is not a calendar year on August 
  2.29  1, 1980, is not subject to this subdivision but shall submit to 
  2.30  the state auditor a detailed statement of its financial affairs 
  2.31  audited by a certified public accountant, a public accountant or 
  2.32  the state auditor no later than 120 days after the close of its 
  2.33  fiscal year.  It may also submit a summary financial report for 
  2.34  the calendar year.