HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017 Audited Financial
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS
SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN
AND TRUST
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016
Contents
Page
Independent Auditors’ Report........................................................................ 1 - 2
Management’s Discussion And Analysis ....................................................... 3 - 6
Financial Statements
Statements Of Fiduciary Net Position .................................................................7
Statements Of Changes In Fiduciary Net Position ..............................................8
Notes To Financial Statements ................................................................... 9 - 18
Supplemental Information
Historical Trend Information ............................................................................19
Investment Returns And Expense Ratios .................................................. 20 - 21
Page 1
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
CLAconnect.com
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT
Board of Trustees
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
St. Louis, Missouri
Report on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying financial statements of The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust (the Plan), which comprise the statements of fiduciary net
position as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the related statements of changes in fiduciary net
position for the years then ended, and the related notes to the financial statements.
Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements
Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in
accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes
the design, implementation, and maintenance of internal control relevant to the preparation and fair
presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or
error.
Auditors’ Responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We
conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of
America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance
about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in
the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors’ judgment, including the
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or
error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal control relevant to the entity’s
preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are
appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness
of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes
evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant
accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the
financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for
our audit opinion.
Board of Trustees
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
Page 2
Opinion
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the
fiduciary net position of the Plan as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the changes in fiduciary net
position for the years then ended, in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the
United States of America.
Other Matters
Required Supplementary Information
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America require that the
management’s discussion and analysis on pages 3 through 6 be presented to supplement the basic
financial statements. Such information, although not a part of the basic financial statements, is required
by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board, who considers it to be an essential part of financial
reporting for placing the basic financial statements in an appropriate operational, economic, or historical
context. We have applied certain limited procedures to the supplementary information in accordance
with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America, which consisted of inquiries
of management about the methods of preparing the information and comparing the information for
consistency with management’s responses to our inquiries, the basic financial statements, and other
knowledge we obtained during our audit of the basic financial statements. However, we did not audit
the information and express no opinion on it.
Other information
Our audit was conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements. The
schedules included in the supplemental information on pages 19 through 21, are presented for
purposes of additional analysis and are not a required part of the financial statements. The schedules
included in supplemental information are the responsibility of management and were derived from and
relate directly to the underlying accounting and other records used to prepare the financial statements.
The supplemental information has not been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audit of
the basic financial statements and, accordingly, we do not express an opinion or provide any assurance
on it.
CliftonLarsonAllen LLP
St. Louis, Missouri
June 28, 2018
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Page 3
MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
For The Years Ended December 31, 2017 and 2016
This report consists of a series of financial statements related to The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer
District (“District”) Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust (“Plan”). The Statements of Fiduciary
Net Position and the Statements of Changes in Fiduciary Net Position (on pages 7 and 8) provide
information about this Plan’s net position and changes in its net position during the year. These
statements are prepared using the accrual basis of accounting.
The Management’s Discussion and Analysis of the Plan’s financial performance provides an
overview of the Plan’s financial activities for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. Please
read it in conjunction with the Plan’s financial statements.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2017
Net position restricted for plan benefits exceeded $64.0M at the end of 2017 and the net
position value increased by approximately $9.1M from that of December 31, 2016, due to an
increase in participant contributions and an increase in the overall value of equity investments
that resulted from an increase in the various markets offset by an increase in distributions to
participants and beneficiaries.
Contributions from participants were approximately $3.9M, which was an increase of $0.1M
as compared with prior year contributions.
Distributions to participants and beneficiaries were approximately $4.0M, which was an
increase of $1.1M as compared with prior year distributions.
The increase in the fair value of investments in 2017 was approximately $7.4M whereas the
fair value of investments increased approximately $2.5M in 2016.
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2016
Net position restricted for plan benefits exceeded $54.9M at the end of 2016 and the net
position value increased by approximately $4.9M from that of December 31, 2015, due to an
increase in participant contributions and an increase in the overall value of equity investments
that resulted from an increase in the various markets offset by an increase in distributions to
participants and beneficiaries.
Contributions from participants were approximately $3.8M, which was an increase of $0.3M
as compared with prior year contributions.
Distributions to participants and beneficiaries were approximately $2.9M, which was an
increase of $0.5M as compared with prior year distributions.
The increase in the fair value of investments in 2016 was approximately $2.5M whereas the
fair value of investments decreased approximately $1.7M in 2015.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued)
Page 4
INVESTMENT ASSET ALLOCATION
Investment decisions are participant directed. The participants are offered a diversified
portfolio of investment options from which to select. These investment options represent a
series of mutual funds primarily sponsored and managed by the Vanguard Group. A
breakdown of the participant directed asset allocation as of December 31, 2017 follows:
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued)
Page 5
PARTICIPANT CENSUS
Employee participation in the Plan is on a voluntary basis. Plan participants are comprised of active
employees of the District, retirees or surviving spouses, and terminated employees with account
balances. Active employee participants are as follows:
Number Of Active
December 31, Participants
2017
2016
767
740
2017 2016 Change
Net Investment Income $ 9,235,115 $ 3,944,851 $ 5,290,264
Contributions and Other Additions 4,021,256 3,962,177 59,079
Total Additions $ 13,256,371 $ 7,907,028 $ 5,349,343
2017 2016 Change
Distributions to Participants $ 4,032,402 $ 2,882,750 $ 1,149,652
Administrative Expenses and Legal Fees 103,796 108,985 (5,189)
Total Deductions $ 4,136,198 $ 2,991,735 $ 1,144,463
2017 2016 Change
Net Increase $ 9,120,173 $ 4,915,293 $ 4,204,880
Net Position Restricted for Benefits, January 1 54,947,110 50,031,817 4,915,293
Net Position Restricted for Benefits, December 31 $ 64,067,283 $ 54,947,110 $ 9,120,173
Net Position
Plan Deductions
Plan Additions
Plan Additions, Deductions, and Net Position are as follows:
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued)
Page 6
FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Board of Trustees and senior management are fiduciaries of the Plan and Trust. Fiduciaries are
charged with the responsibility of assuring that the assets of the Plan are used exclusively for the
benefit of plan participants and their beneficiaries.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION
This financial report is designed to provide the Board of Trustees, participants, investment managers,
and other interested parties with an overview of the Plan’s finances and accountability for the money
received. Questions concerning any of the information provided in this report or requests for
additional information should be addressed to:
Tim Snoke, Secretary-Treasurer
The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District
2350 Market Street
St. Louis, MO 63103-2555
Email: tsnoke@stlmsd.com
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
See the accompanying Notes To Financial Statements. Page 7
STATEMENTS OF FIDUCIARY NET POSITION
2017 2016
ASSETS
Investments at Fair Value:
Mutual Funds 59,225,799$ 49,616,224$
Annuity Contracts 521,841 463,516
Total Investments at Fair Value 59,747,640 50,079,740
Investments at Contract Value:
Common/Collective Trust 2,941,454 3,747,612
Total Investments 62,689,094 53,827,352
Notes Receivable from Participants 1,378,189 1,119,758
NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR PLAN BENEFITS
December 31,
64,067,283$ 54,947,110$
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
See the accompanying Notes To Financial Statements. Page 8
STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN FIDUCIARY NET POSITION
2017 2016
ADDITIONS TO NET POSITION ATTRIBUTED TO:
Investment Income:
Interest and Dividends on Investments 1,894,760$ 1,526,962$
Interest Income on Partici pant Loans 55,661 46,419
Net Appreciation in Fair Value of Investments 7,437,805 2,513,292
Total Investment Income 9,388,226 4,086,673
Less: Investment Expenses 153,111 141,822
Net Investment Income 9,235,115 3,944,851
Contributions and Other Additions:
Employee Contributions 3,917,460 3,796,536
Employer Contributions — 56,656
Plan Expenses Paid by Employer 103,796 108,985
Total Contributions and Other Additions 4,021,256 3,962,177
Total Additions 13,256,371 7,907,028
DEDUCTIONS FROM NET POSITION ATTRIBUTED TO:
Distributions to Participants and Beneficiaries 4,032,402 2,882,750
Administrative Expenses 103,796 100,860
Le gal Fees — 8,125
Total Deductions 4,136,198 2,991,735
NET INCREASE 9,120,173 4,915,293
NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR BENEFITS, January 1 54,947,110 50,031,817
NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR BENEFITS, December 31 64,067,283$ 54,947,110$
For the Years
Ended December 31,
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Page 9
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2017 And 2016
1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
The following significant accounting policies, which conform to generally accepted
accounting principles, have been used consistently in the preparation of The Metropolitan
St. Louis Sewer District Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust’s (“Plan”) financial
statements.
Basis of Accounting
The financial statements of the Plan are prepared under the accrual basis of accounting.
Estimates and Assumptions
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting
principles requires the Plan Administrator to make certain estimates and assumptions that
affect the reported amounts in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Investment Valuation and Income Recognition
The Plan’s investments in mutual funds and annuity contracts are stated at fair value. Shares
of registered investment companies are valued at quoted market prices which represent the net
asset value of shares held by the Plan at year-end. Units of the Retirement Savings Trust are
valued at contract value which approximates fair value.
Purchases and sales of investments are recorded on a trade-date basis. Interest income is
accrued when earned. Dividend income is recorded on the ex-dividend date. Capital gain
distributions are included in dividend income. Realized gains of $1,278,317 and $957,448
were recorded in the periods ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Notes receivable from participants are measured at their unpaid principal balance. The
interest amount is determined when the loan is taken and then disbursed across each payment.
Delinquent notes receivable from a participant are reclassified as distributions based upon the
terms of the Plan document.
Payment of Benefits
Benefits are recorded when paid.
Recently Issued Accounting Standards
During calendar year 2016, the Plan implemented Governmental Accounting Standards Board
(“GASB”) Statement No. 72, Fair Value Measurement and Application. This Statement
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 10
supersedes selected paragraphs and footnotes and amends selected paragraphs in various
Statements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board. The primary objective of this
Statement is to improve financial reporting by state and local governments by clarifying the
definition of fair value for financial reporting purposes, establishing general principles for
measuring fair value, providing additional fair value application guidance, and enhancing
disclosures about fair value measurements. The disclosures required by this Statement are
presented in Footnote 4, Fair Value Measurement and Application.
Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events through June 28, 2018, the date through which
the financial statements were available for issue.
2. Description of the Plan
The following description of the Plan provides only general information. Participants should
refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.
General
The Plan is a defined contribution plan covering substantially all employees of the District
beginning on the first day of employment. The District’s Board of Trustees established the
Plan in January 1976 through ordinance No. 2971. Plan provisions are established and may
be amended by the District’s Board of Trustees. The District does not contribute to the Plan
except where mandated by the Internal Revenue Service to compensate participants for lost
deferral contributions.
All assets of the Plan are the sole property of the Plan and are not subject to the claims of
creditors of the District. The Plan Administrator issues a publicly available Summary Plan
Description. That information may be obtained by writing to The Metropolitan St. Louis
Sewer District, 2350 Market Street, St. Louis, MO 63103-2555.
Contributions
Under the Plan provisions, employees of the District are eligible to contribute up to 100% of
their total compensation into the Plan, through payroll deferral, or any amount not previously
reduced or withheld from their total compensation. In accordance with Internal Revenue
Code Section 457 as amended, the Plan limits an individual’s annual contribution (adjusted
annually) to $18,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016. If the employee is 50
or older, there is a special option which allows the employee to contribute an additional
“catch-up” contribution of up to $6,000 for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016.
Another special option is a one-time 457(b) “catch-up” contribution of two times the standard
annual deferral, less amounts already deferred under the Plan, which is allowed in one of the
last three calendar years before the employee reaches Normal Retirement Age. Employees
are not permitted to take advantage of both special options in the same year.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 11
Based on a District audit of deferred compensation plan contributions, it was determined that
not all of the Vanguard election deferrals matched the percentages being deducted by the
District. To adjust for this discrepancy, in 2016 the District contributed $56,657, representing
25% of the missed 2011-2015 deferral contributions for those employees affected, to the
impacted employees’ accounts. In addition, $10,643 in interest was also contributed to the
employees’ accounts. No contribution by the District was required in 2017.
Amounts contributed by employees are deferred for federal and state income tax purposes
until received as a withdrawal or distribution from the Plan.
Participant Accounts
Each participant’s account is credited with the participant’s contribution and allocations of
Plan earnings. Allocations are based on participants’ account balances, as defined. There are
no forfeitures applicable to the Plan. Participants’ contributions are immediately fully vested.
At December 31, 2017 and 2016, 767 and 740 participants, respectively, actively participated
in the Plan.
Notes Receivable from Participants
Participants may borrow from their account a minimum of $1,000 up to a maximum equal to
the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their vested account balance. If the participant also
participates in the Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Defined Contribution Plan,
borrowing from the vested account balance is generally limited to 50% of the available
balance in excess of 4% of the participant’s compensation.
Participants may only apply for a loan once during each Plan Year and may only have two
outstanding loans from the Plan at any time. Loans may not extend beyond a term of five
years except for the purchase of a principal residence for which the term is thirty years.
Loans are secured by the balance of the participant’s account and bear interest at the prime
interest rate plus 1%. Interest rates on current loans range from 4.25% to 9.25% and the rate
is fixed during the term of the loan. Current loans are due at varying dates through June 2046.
Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions.
Investment Options
Upon enrollment in the Plan, a participant directs elective contributions and rollovers in any
of the investment options available. The investment options consist of mutual funds and a
common/collective trust fund. Employee contributions may be allocated to the Vanguard
accounts only, in 1% increments, as the participant directs. No new contributions are
currently allowed to the Lincoln National annuity contract accounts.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 12
Vanguard offers participants in the Plan the following investment options:
Equity option (Large Cap): Vanguard Windsor II Fund, Vanguard 500 Index Fund, and
Vanguard U.S. Growth Fund - Investment objective is long-term capital appreciation.
Equity Diversification option (Small/Mid Cap and International): Vanguard Small-Cap Index
Fund, Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund, and Vanguard International Growth Fund - Investment
objective is long-term capital appreciation.
Bond option (Fixed Income): Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund - Investment
objective is income stability and conservation of principal.
Balanced option (Balanced): Vanguard Balanced Index Fund - Investment objective is
income, conservation of principal and long-term growth.
Stable Value option (Capital Preservation): Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust - Investment
objective is income stability and conservation of principal.
Money Market option (Capital Preservation): Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund -
Investment objective is income while maintaining safety of principal.
Target Retirement option (Target Date): Vanguard Target Retirement 2015-2065 Funds and
Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund - Investment objective is capital appreciation and
current income consistent with its current asset allocation.
Distributions
Participants contributing to the Plan may receive benefits or withdraw the present value of
funds contributed to the Plan upon retirement, disability, or termination of employment from
the District or due to financial hardship as defined by the Plan, if approved by the Plan
Administrator.
Participants may select various payout options including lump sum or equal annual payments
over various periods. Participants may also elect to have the value of the account converted
into fixed or variable annuity contracts. All investments, including annuity contracts, remain
assets of the Plan until payments are made to the participants.
Administrative Expenses
The general administrative expenses of the Plan are paid by the District. These expenses
consist of legal, consultant and accounting expenses as well as the administration of the Plan.
Expenses attributable to a participant’s choice of optional investments or optional forms of
benefit payments are charged to the respective participant’s account balance.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 13
3. Investments
Investment Balances
Investments held by custodians in the Plan’s name are as follows:
2017 2016
Mutual Funds:
Vanguard Group, Inc.
Windsor II Fund 9,382,333$ * 8,714,375$ *
500 Index Fund 8,995,067 * 7,514,295 *
Balanced Index Fund 5,485,682 * 4,743,095 *
U.S. Growth Fund 5,399,403 * 4,370,927 *
Target Retirement 2025 Fund 4,506,811 * 2,459,312
Mid-Cap Index Fund 3,461,785 * 3,087,977 *
International Growth Fund 3,341,152 * 1,987,702
Small-Cap Index Fund 2,814,235 2,412,321
Target Retirement 2020 Fund 2,812,842 2,341,653
Total Bond Market Index Fund 2,742,294 3,492,248 *
Target Retirement 2035 Fund 1,856,963 1,473,888
Target Retirement 2030 Fund 1,855,802 1,226,969
Prime Money Market Fund 1,384,365 1,802,269
Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,190,114 894,336
Target Retirement 2040 Fund 1,101,522 791,929
Target Retirement 2015 Fund 975,588 738,833
Target Retirement Income Fund 824,242 435,731
Target Retirement 2050 Fund 767,662 440,290
Target Retirement 2055 Fund 245,553 80,885
Target Retirement 2060 Fund 82,303 53,710
Target Retirement 2065 Fund 81 —
Target Retirement 2010 Fund — 553,479
Total Mutual Funds 59,225,799 49,616,224
Common/collective trust:
Vanguard Group, Inc.
Retirement Savings Trust 2,941,454 3,747,612 *
December 31,
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 14
* Represents 5% or more of the Plan’s net position at December 31, 2017 or 2016, respectively.
Certain participants are invested in a series of fixed and variable rate annuity contracts
sponsored by Lincoln National Life Insurance Company and these assets are valued at
$521,841 and $463,516 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Lincoln National
Life option was phased out in 1992, and any balances represent undistributed participant
balances. This option is no longer available to new participants or for current deferrals.
Categories of Asset Risk - Debt Securities Interest Rate and Credit Risk
The Plan will minimize the risk that the market value of securities in the portfolio will fall due
to changes in general interest rates by selecting mutual funds for the investment portfolio that
manage credit quality and duration of fixed income investments.
The Plan will minimize credit risk, the risk of loss due to failure of the security issuer or
backer, by selecting mutual funds for the investment portfolio that manage their respective
fund under a predetermined average credit risk investment management policy.
The following tables provide information on the duration and credit ratings associated with
the Plan’s investments with debt securities, including obligations of the U.S. Government or
obligations explicitly guaranteed by the U.S. Government within these funds at December 31,
2017 and 2016:
2017 2016
Annuity Contracts:
Lincoln National Life
Fixed Earnings Option:
Fixed Account 181,014$ 174,967$
Variable Earnings Option:
Growth & Income Fund 175,829 146,999
Special Opportunity Fund 164,998 141,550
Total Annuity Contracts 521,841 463,516
Total Investments 62,689,094$ 53,827,352$
December 31,
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 15
Credit Quality Percentage of Total Plan Investments-2017
Average Percentage
Effective of Debt
Plan Investments Fair Percentage Duration Not
With Debt Securities Value of Debt In Years Rated
December 31, 2017:
Vanguard Group, Inc.
Balanced Index Fund 5,485,682$ 39% 6.15 3.12%
Target Retirement 2025 Fund 4,506,811 35% 6.61 1.11%
Retirement Savings Trust 2,941,454 93% 3.14 0.00%
Target Retirement 2020 Fund 2,812,842 43% 6.30 1.10%
Total Bond Market Index Fund 2,742,294 97% 6.12 0.49%
Target Retirement 2035 Fund 1,856,963 21% 6.62 0.90%
Target Retirement 2030 Fund 1,855,802 28% 6.66 0.72%
Prime Money Market Fund 1,384,365 27% * 0.00%
Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,190,114 10% 6.61 0.57%
Target Retirement 2040 Fund 1,101,522 14% 6.66 0.51%
Target Retirement 2015 Fund 975,588 55% 5.85 1.47%
Target Retirement Income Fund 824,242 67% 5.67 0.70%
Target Retirement 2050 Fund 767,662 10% 6.66 0.54%
Target Retirement 2055 Fund 245,553 10% 6.60 0.42%
Target Retirement 2060 Fund 82,303 10% 6.65 0.49%
Target Retirement 2065 Fund 81 10% 6.61 0.48%
Lincoln National Life
Fixed (Annuity Contracts)181,014 * * *
* Information is unavailable for this security.
The average effective duration only applies to the debt portion of the investment.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 16
Credit Quality Percentage of Total Plan Investments-2016
Average Percentage
Effective of Debt
Plan Investments Fair Percentage Duration Not
With Debt Securities Value of Debt In Years Rated
December 31, 2016:
Vanguard Group, Inc.
Balanced Index Fund 4,743,095$ 39% 6.01 3.55%
Retirement Savings Trust 3,747,612 91% 2.78 0.00%
Total Bond Market Index Fund 3,492,248 98% 6.02 0.57%
Target Retirement 2025 Fund 2,459,312 34% 6.48 0.28%
Target Retirement 2020 Fund 2,341,653 42% 6.29 0.27%
Prime Money Market Fund 1,802,269 30% * 0.00%
Target Retirement 2035 Fund 1,473,888 19% 6.48 0.19%
Target Retirement 2030 Fund 1,226,969 26% 6.48 0.26%
Target Retirement 2045 Fund 894,336 10% 6.49 0.01%
Target Retirement 2040 Fund 791,929 12% 6.48 0.14%
Target Retirement 2015 Fund 738,833 53% 5.80 0.95%
Target Retirement 2010 Fund 553,479 67% 5.59 0.22%
Target Retirement 2050 Fund 440,290 10% 6.48 0.00%
Target Retirement Income Fund 435,731 68% 5.55 0.28%
Target Retirement 2055 Fund 80,885 10% 6.48 0.00%
Target Retirement 2060 Fund 53,710 10% 6.47 0.00%
Lincoln National Life
Fixed (Annuity Contracts)174,967 * * *
* Information is unavailable for this security.
The average effective duration only applies to the debt portion of the investment.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 17
4. Fair Value Measurement and Application
The Plan has the following recurring fair value measurements as of December 31, 2017 and
2016:
Mutual fund investments of $59,225,799 and $49,616,224, respectively, are valued
using quoted market prices (Level 1 inputs).
Annuity contract investments of $521,841 and $463,516, respectively, may contain
illiquid investments and are valued using estimates and assumptions related to pricing,
including assumptions regarding risk (Level 3 inputs).
5. Risks and Uncertainties
The Plan invests in various investment securities as directed by the Plan’s participants.
Investment securities are exposed to various risks such as interest rate, market, and credit risk.
Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably
possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and
that such change could materially affect the participants’ account balances and amounts
reported in the Plan’s Statements of Fiduciary Net Position.
6. Plan Termination
Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the District has the right under the Plan to
terminate the Plan at any time. In the event of Plan termination, participants would remain
100% vested in their accounts.
7. Related Party Transactions
The Plan invests in shares of mutual funds managed by an affiliate of Vanguard Fiduciary
Trust Company (“VFTC”). VFTC acts as trustee for only those investments as defined by the
Plan. Transactions in such investments qualify as related party transactions which are exempt
from the prohibited transaction rules.
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
Notes To Financial Statements (Continued)
Page 18
8. Tax Status
The Plan received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”)
on June 23, 1999, indicating the Plan and its underlying Trust are qualified under Section 457
of the Internal Revenue Code. Although the Plan has been amended since receiving the
determination letter, the Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and is
being operated in compliance with applicable requirements of the IRS.
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
See the accompanying independent auditors’ report. Page 19
HISTORICAL TREND INFORMATION
Employee
And Employer Distributions
For The Contributions And To Participants Increase
Years Ended Expenses Paid Net Investment And Plan (Decrease)
December 31, By Employer Income (Loss) Expenses In Net Position
2017 4,021,256$ 9,235,115$ (4,136,198)$ 9,120,173$
2016 3,962,177 3,944,851 (2,991,735) 4,915,293
2015 3,584,552 17,327 (2,499,216) 1,102,663
2014 3,227,393 3,677,147 (3,977,801) 2,926,739
2013 3,163,343 7,863,858 (3,298,602) 7,728,599
2012 2,969,056 4,056,818 (2,725,147) 4,300,727
2011 2,723,859 238,167 (1,886,224) 1,075,802
2010 2,674,626 3,420,763 (2,406,761) 3,688,628
2009 2,685,427 4,837,406 (972,044) 6,550,789
2008 2,723,760 (7,663,384) (1,168,917) (6,108,541)
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
See the accompanying independent auditors’ report. Page 20
INVESTMENT RETURNS AND EXPENSE RATIOS
An independent investment consultant, Pavilion Advisory Group Inc., monitored investment
performance of the various options offered to the participants. Performance of the funds are measured
net of the corresponding expense ratios. Below is a table that reflects the funds available for
employees to invest and their one-year performance for the years 2017 and 2016 as compared to the
appropriate benchmarks, as well as their current expense ratios:
Funds / Benchmarks Expense Ratios 2017 2016
Vanguard Prime Money Market 1.0 0.5
BofA Merrill Lynch 3 Month U.S. T-Bill 0.9 0.3
Vanguard Retirement Savings Trust 1.8 1.9
Ryan 3yr Guaranteed Investment Contract Master 1.6 1.4
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index 3.5 2.5
Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund Benchmark 3.6 2.8
Vanguard Balanced Index 13.8 8.6
Vanguard Balanced Index Fund Benchmark 13.9 8.8
Vanguard Windsor II 16.8 13.4
Russell 1000 Value Index 13.7 17.3
Vanguard 500 Index 21.7 11.8
Standard & Poor’s 500 21.8 12.0
Vanguard U.S. Growth 31.6 -0.7
Russell 1000 Growth Index 30.2 7.1
Vanguard Mid-Cap Index 19.1 11.1
Vanguard Mid-Cap Index Fund Blended Benchmark 19.3 11.2
Vanguard Small-Cap Index 16.1 18.2
Vanguard Small-Cap Index Fund Blended Benchmark 16.2 18.3
Vanguard International Growth 43.0 1.7
MSCI AC World Ex USA (Net ) 27.2 4.5
0.18
0.18
0.45
0.43
Returns Net of Fees*
0.15
0.19
0.33
0.14
0.16
0.50
THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT
DEFERRED COMPENSATION PLAN AND TRUST
See the accompanying independent auditors’ report. Page 21
INVESTMENT RETURNS AND EXPENSE RATIOS (Continued)
*The returns shown above are net of fees as reported by the managers.
Funds / Benchmarks Expense Ratios 2017 2016
Vanguard Target Retirement Income 8.5 5.3
Vanguard Target Income Composite Index (Net ) 8.7 5.4
Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 11.5 6.2
Vanguard Target 2015 Composite Index (Net) 11.6 6.4
Vanguard Target Retirement 2020 14.1 6.9
Vanguard Target 2020 Composite Index (Net) 14.2 7.2
Vanguard Target Retirement 2025 15.9 7.5
Vanguard Target 2025 Composite Index (Net) 16.1 7.7
Vanguard Target Retirement 2030 17.5 7.9
Vanguard Target 2030 Composite Index (Net) 17.7 8.1
Vanguard Target Retirement 2035 19.1 8.3
Vanguard Target 2035 Composite Index (Net) 19.2 8.6
Vanguard Target Retirement 2040 20.7 8.7
Vanguard Target 2040 Composite Index (Net) 20.9 9.0
Vanguard Target Retirement 2045 21.4 8.9
Vanguard Target 2045 Composite Index (Net) 21.5 9.1
Vanguard Target Retirement 2050 21.4 8.9
Vanguard Target 2050 Composite Index (Net) 21.5 9.1
Vanguard Target Retirement 2055 21.4 8.9
Vanguard Target 2055 Composite Index (Net) 21.5 9.1
Vanguard Target Retirement 2060 21.4 8.8
Vanguard Target 2060 Composite Index (Net) 21.5 9.1
Vanguard Target Retirement 2065 N/A N/A
Vanguard Target 2065 Composite Index (Net) N/A N/A
Returns Net of Fees*
0.13
0.14
0.16
0.14
0.16
0.16
0.14
0.15
0.15
0.16
0.16
0.16