Barton County Electric Coop Inc

“MEMBERS”

“Three board members are voted on and elected each year by the general membership. Each board member is elected for a term of 3 years. These directors are all members of the organization and are elected by the "one member equals one vote" principle at our annual membership meeting.”

“There are nine directors which approve all policies of the organization, but the general membership must approve any changes made to the bylaws of the organization. Those bylaws require notification of and a vote of the members at the annual meeting to change.”

“The board of directors is presented with a copy of the 990 at the board meeting. They will review it by section and ask questions to the ceo/general manager.”

“Conflict of interest policy and whistleblower policy are annually reviewed with employees and board of directors. Board of directors are asked to excuse themselves from any decision with which they have a conflict of interest.”

“YES”

“In 2008 our organization hired the nreca consulting group to evaluate job duties and compensation of the entire staff. Each job description was assigned a grade. Compensation is determined by grade level, which is comparable to other cooperatives within the region.”

“Barton county electric cooperative presents the annual audit at the annual member's meeting. Bcec has an access to information policy that details how members may obtain cooperative information. All bcec bylaws and minutes of our board of director's meetings are posted for public access on our website.”

“Form 990, part ix the cooperative's accounting records are maintained in accordance with the uniform system of accounts required by its regulatory agency. The uniform system of accounts does not record expenses in the expense categories provided on part ix lines 1-23. Therefore, other expenses line 24 includes expenses that are described in lines 1-23, but reported using the uniform system of accounts.”

“To improve farm production and living standards through electrical services provided to rural areas on a cooperative basis. To improve the economy of the community through electrical service provided to commercial, schools and churches. To promote a clean and safe environment through electrical service provided to landfills, highways and parks.”

“Form 990, part ix: for the audited financial statements, the amount of patronage dividends paid or allocated to the members is reported as an increase in equity and not as an expense. Therefore, net income per the audited financial statements is reported gross of the amount of patronage dividends that are either allocated or to be allocated at the time the audited financial statements are prepared. However, because the allocation of patronage dividends is one aspect of how the cooperative fulfills its tax exempt purpose of operating on a cooperative basis, the amount of patronage dividends either allocated or to be alloced to the members is reported on form 990, part ix, line 4 as "benefits paid to members." patronage dividends are allocated on a patronage basis and done so pursuant to a pre-existing obligation as provided for in the "non-profit operation" article of the cooperative's bylaws.”

“Allocated patronage dividends 1,756,302 increase in other equities 142,095 retirements of patronage capital -1,095,203 total 803,194”