Financial Reporting

Financial Reporting Survival Guide for Soil and Water Conservation Districts

The following financial reports, covering Fiscal Year 2020-2021 (October 1, 2020 through September 30, 2021), are due June 30, 2022 at the latest.

Annual Financial Report:

  • Collects revenue, expenditure, and debt data from all counties, municipalities and special districts.
  • All counties, municipalities, and special districts – even those without revenues and expenditures – must file this report electronically on the Florida Department of Financial Services website.
    • Each independent S&WCD must file its own separate report.
    • A dependent S&WCD that is a component unit of a county may be included in the county’s report. A dependent S&WCD should check with the county to find out if the county is including the S&WCD in its report.

How to File the Annual Financial Report:

Financial Audit Report (required if the financial threshold is met):

  • The Financial Audit:
    • Covers the results of a financial audit;
    • Is prepared by an independent CPA
    • Examines financial statements in order to assess whether they are fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles; and,
    • Examines whether operations are properly conducted in accordance with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • The Financial Threshold:
    • When revenues or combined expenditures and expenses exceed $100,000, or,
    • When revenues or combined expenditures and expenses fall between $50,000 and $100,000 and the special district has not had a financial audit for the previous two fiscal years.
  • The financial audit for a dependent S&WCD that is a component unit of a county may be included in the audit of that county. A dependent S&WCD meeting the above financial threshold should check with the county to find out if the county included the S&WCD in its financial audit.

How to File the Financial Audit Report

  1. Mail one paper copy to the Florida Auditor General (for the address, see the “Local Governmental Entity Audit Report Submittal Checklist” available on the Florida Auditor General website at Florida Auditor General – Technical Guidance – Local Governments.
  2. Email one electronic copy to the Florida Auditor General (for instructions, see Instructions for Local Governmental Entity Audit Reports Electronically Submitted to the Auditor General).
  3. Complete and mail or email the “Local Governmental Entity Audit Report Submittal Checklist”.
  4. Email one electronic copy to the Florida Department of Financial Services at localgov@myfloridacfo.com when filing the Annual Financial Report online (see The Annual Financial Report).
  5. Give one copy to each member of the special district’s governing body.
  6. The special district must post on its official website the final complete audit report for the most recent completed fiscal year and any audit reports required by law or authorized by the governing body of the special district. If the special district has filed this audit report with the Florida Auditor General, the special district may provide a link to the audit report on the Florida Auditor General’s website as opposed to posting the audit report on its own website. To find the direct link to the special district’s audit report, visit Florida Auditor General – Financial Audit Reports Submitted by Special Districts.
  7. Direct all questions about the financial audit to Derek Noonan, CPA, (850) 412-2864 or dereknoonan@aud.state.fl.us

For additional information about these reports and other requirements, visit the Florida Special District Handbook.