Lyntegar Electric Cooperative Inc

“The cooperative was formed by the members to provide electric service at cost on a cooperative basis.”

“The members of the cooperative vote on the board of directors. Elections are done on a one member one vote basis.”

“The following acts require approval of the members of the cooperative. 1. Dissolution/liquidation of the cooperative; 2. Merger or consolidation of the cooperative with another organization; 3. The disposal of a substantial portion of the cooperative's assets; and 4. Amendment to the articles of incorporation.”

“The form 990 was discussed and reviewed by the board at the first board meeting occuring subsequent to the date when the form 990 was filed.”

“On an annual basis, legal counsel is required to review the conflict of interest policy with the directors and officers at the first meeting of the board of directors following elections. Each director and officer must also complete and sign a conflict of interest certification and disclosure form. Thereafter, directors and officers are required to disclose any action or situation that might violate the policy to the full board of directors as soon as possible.”

“The board of directors use a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the general manager/ceo. The survey shows comparative salaries for general managers/ceos from cooperatives located in texas and the nation. The board and the general manager/ceo use a compensation survey when determining the compensation of the cooperative's other employees meeting the definition of officer and highly compensated employees, if any. The survey includes salaries from similar cooperatives throughout texas and the nation.”

“The cooperative provides a summarized copy of the audited financial statements to the members of the cooperative at the annual meeting and the cooperative by-laws are available on the cooperative's website. The cooperative will provide a complete copy of the audited financial statements, conflict of interest policy, or governing documents to any member who requests a copy.”

“The board of directors is comprised of 7 voting members. However, the board president votes only in the case of a tie.”

“In order to provide retirement benefits to its employees, the cooperative has established a defined contribution plan under section 401(k) of the internal revenue code. As part of the plan document, the cooperative provides a base and a matching contribution. Employer contributions to this plan are available to participating employees, including officers and highly compensated employees, meeting the eligibility requirements of such plan. The cooperative also provides health, dental, vision and life insurance to all employees through a qualified plan. The amounts reported on part vii, column (f) for the officers and highly compensated employees are comprised of the total amount contributed to the 401(k) pension plan and the insurance paid on behalf of and for their benefit. In addition to the above pension plans, the cooperative also provides post-retirement health insurance benefits through an unfunded welfare benefit plan. The value per person of these benefits has not been estimated.”

“Patronage dividends result from the purchase of wholesale power from a generation & transmission cooperative. Patronage dividends also result from the payment of interest from cooperative banks and the purchase of supplies and services from other cooperative organizations. The expenses associated with purchases from and payments to such cooperative organizations are a direct component of cost of the electric service provided by the cooperative to its members.”

“The accounting records of the cooperative are maintained in accordance with the uniform system of accounts as prescribed by the federal energy regulatory commission for class a and b electric utilities. The uniform system of accounting does not record expenses in the general expense categories provided on part ix lines 1 - 23. The cooperative separately reports salaries and wages, employee benefits and payroll taxes that are allocated in accordance with its accounting system, but other expenses that are described in lines 1 - 23 are reported on line 24 under the expense categories required by the uniform system of accounts.”

“Salaries and wages are allocated to asset, liability, and expense accounts based on the accounting system described above. The following schedule reconciles amounts reported on lines 5-7 to total wages accrued and/or paid: total per lines 5-7 $ 4,985,192 less directors fees reported on 1099-misc (149,064) less employee officer benefits included in line 5 (91,420) plus salaries and wages capitalized directly to plant 1,771,948 plus salaries and wages capitalized/expensed indirectly through clearing and other accounts 1,420,709 total wages accrued and/or paid $ 7,937,365”

“Administrative and general expense is comprised of the following: safety and training $ 114,598 office supplies and expense 313,445 outside services employed 196,008 injuries and damages 144,258 regulatory commission expense 142,640 director's expenses 13,438 dues paid associated organizations 84,405 annual meeting 74,678 general advertising 71,327 maintenance of general plant 295,609 miscellaneous general expense 153,143 total administrative and general expense per 990 $ 1,603,549”

“Other expense is comprised of the following: sales expense $ 982 brokerage fees on investments 158,780 transmission expense 11,718 satellite and internet operating expenses 15,726 investment expenses and deductions 236,016 total other expenses per form 990 line 24e $ 423,222”

“The form 990 instructions specifically state that the amount of patronage dividends paid to the members should be reported on part ix, line 4. The phrase "patronage dividends paid" refers to the process, subsequent to year-end, by which the cooperative allocates patronage capital to and, therefore, operates at cost with its members (hereinafter referred to as patrons). The cooperative's tax exempt purpose is to provide electricity to its patrons and to do so on a cooperative basis. Tax law defines "operating on a cooperative basis" as subordination of capital, democratic control, and operation at cost. The cooperative operates at cost through the allocation of true patronage dividends (also referred to as allocations of patronage capital) to its patrons. Patronage dividends are considered paid if the allocation is made (1) pursuant to a pre-existing obligation, (2) from the margins produced from the transactions done with or for patrons, and (3) in a fair and equitable manner on the basis of patronage (i.e. Purchases). Additionally, the allocation of patronage dividends should be made within a reasonable time period after the close of the cooperative's year-end of december 31. Each one of these requirements for a true patronage dividend is provided for in the non-profit operation article of the cooperative's bylaws and is summarized as follows: (a) in order to induce patronage and to assure that the cooperative will operate on a nonprofit basis, the cooperative is obligated to account on a patronage basis to all its patrons for all amounts received and receivable from the furnishing of electric energy in excess of operating costs and expenses properly chargeable against such services (i.e. Margins from the provision of electric energy). (b) the margins from the provision of electric energy are received with the understanding that they are furnished by the patrons as capital. (c) the cooperative is obligated to pay by credits to a capital account for each patron for all such margins. And (d) all such amounts credited to the capital account of any patron shall have the same status as though they had been paid to the patron in cash in pursuance of a legal obligation to do so and the patron had then furnished to the cooperative corresponding amounts of capital. The amount reported on part ix, line 4 represents the amount of patronage capital that is either allocated or to be allocated to the patrons resulting from their purchase of electricity from the cooperative for the 2014 calendar year. As noted above, such amounts are allocated subsequent to year-end in a fair and equitable manner on the basis of patronage (i.e. Purchases). The amounts allocated are representative of the margins from the provision of electric energy to the patrons and are done pursuant to the obligation that existed in the bylaws prior to the cooperative providing electricity to its patrons. Therefore, these amounts meet the definition of the term "patronage dividends paid". Please note, however, that because patronage dividends is the process by which the cooperative operates at cost with its patrons and thereby a key component to accomplishing its exempt purpose, the cooperative has reported the amount of its 2014 margin that has been or is to be allocated to the patrons subsequent to year-end. Such amounts are an expense for form 990 reporting and is not an expense for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (gaap). As a result, the difference between the cooperative's gaap basis financial statements and the revenue less expenses reported on part i, line 19 is the amount of patronage dividends reported as benefits paid to members.”

“Net change in memberships 105. Other comprehensive income - unrealized holding gain on securities 82,653. Other comprehensive income - post retirement health benefits 281,300. Other - book/tax difference on other investment income -395,970. Patronage capital retired -3,031,545. Patronage capital assignable 5,256,452.”

“The board as a whole is responsible for overseeing the financial statement audit and selecting the independent financial statement auditor. Procedural changes did not occur during the year.”