Q: What is the Clerk and Comptroller’s role in handling county government’s finances?
A: Our office is essentially the county’s accountant, internal auditor, and custodian of funds. We manage its investments, handle payroll, pay its bills, internal auditing, and prepare the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR).
Q: Can you describe the CAFR further?
A: The CAFR is a detailed financial report published at the end of each fiscal year detailing St. Johns County’s revenue and spending. It contains financial information including statements of net assets, the balances of county funds, debt information, and more. The report is presented in three sections: introductory, financial, and statistical. It includes basic financial statements as well as the independent auditors’ report.
Q: What is the Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR) and where can residents review the latest one?
A: The PAFR summarizes the 400-page CAFR and uses terms that allow residents to understand the county’s financial position. It features highlights from the comprehensive report and is designed to be straightforward and user-friendly for taxpayers without a background in public finance. To read the PAFR, please visit our website. We will publish a PAFR this fall for Fiscal Year 2022 to show how tax dollars are collected and spent, as well as more recent trends on demographics, housing, taxes, and more.
Q: Has your office received any recognition for this work?
A: The comptroller’s office publishes two reports annually: the CAFR and the PAFR. In June, the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) awarded our office a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting for each of the reports published for Fiscal Year 2021. This is the 30th consecutive year the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller has received the award for the CAFR — the gold standard for reporting, transparency, and disclosure about the county’s finances. The PAFR has only been published twice and following each submission, the GFOA has presented the office with this award.
Q: What is the best way for residents to contact you?
A: Residents can call my office at (904) 819-3601 or my cell at (904) 599-8688. My email address is BPatty@stjohnsclerk.com. A lot of questions can be answered by visiting our website, www.stjohnsclerk.com.
