Lyntegar Electric Cooperative Inc

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

“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. Disposal of a substantial portion of the cooperative's assets; 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.”

“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 rus uniform system of accounts as prescribed for electric borrowers of the rural utilities services (rus). The uniform system of accounts 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 their 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 $ 5,681,389 less directors fees reported on 1099-misc (159,884) less employee officer benefits included in line 5 (94,812) plus salaries and wages capitalized directly to plant 1,912,128 plus salaries and wages capitalized/expensed indirectly through clearing and other accounts 1,377,453 total wages accrued and/or paid $ 8,716,274”

“Administrative and general expense is comprised of the following: safety and training $ 108,435 office supplies and expense 383,189 outside services employed 119,980 injuries and damages 149,291 regulatory commission expense 108,399 director's expenses 18,747 dues paid associated organizations 86,266 annual meeting 95,226 general advertising 90,498 maintenance of general plant 271,067 miscellaneous general expense 170,963 total administrative and general expense per 990 $ 1,602,061”

“Other expense is comprised of the following: sales expense $ 19,593 brokerage fees on investments 148,700 transmission expense 13,361 satellite and internet operating expenses 12,947 investment expenses and deductions 213,239 total other expenses per form 990 line 24e $ 407,840”

“Pursuant to the form 990 instructions, the amount of patronage dividends paid to the members (hereinafter referred to as "patrons") 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 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. 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 2015 calendar year. Because patronage dividends are 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 such amounts as an expense for form 990 reporting. Patronage dividends are not an expense for financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, however.”

“All grants, sponsorships and donations are made to non-profit and civic organizations that are located in the cooperative's service area. All donations are intended to improve the communities in which our members reside. Each grant, scholarship and/or donation made during the year was below the reporting threshold of schedule i, part ii.”

“The cooperative previously included accrued expenses (comprised of (1) accrued payroll and employee compensated absences, (2) accrued interest (3) accrued expenses - other.) as components of other liabilities on line 25 of part x. However, for the 2015 calendar year, the cooperative began reporting these amounts on line 17. To increase consistency, accrued expenses in the amount of $3,016,120 for the 2014 calendar year have been reclassed from line 25 to line 17.”

“Net change in memberships -90. Other comprehensive income - post retirement health benefits -3,300. Other - book/tax difference on other investment income -443,753. Patronage capital retired -1,611,500. Patronage capital assignable 2,869,989.”

“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.”