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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2017 Audited Financial THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2017 AND 2016 Contents Page Independent Auditors’ Report........................................................................ 1 - 2 Management’s Discussion And Analysis ....................................................... 3 - 7 Financial Statements Statements Of Fiduciary Net Position................................................................8 Statements Of Changes In Fiduciary Net Position ............................................9 Notes To Financial Statements ................................................................ 10 - 18 Supplemental Information Historical Trend Information ...........................................................................19 Fund Values And Expense Ratios....................................................................20 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 Defined Contribution Plan (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 7 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 20, 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 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN 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”) Defined Contribution Plan (“Plan”). The Statements of Fiduciary Net Position and the Statements of Changes in Fiduciary Net Position (on pages 8 and 9) 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  At December 31, the Plan consisted of 408 participants with account balances of $7,444,125 in net position.  Total increase to the Plan’s net position (page 9) amounted to $2,505,235 consisting of Plan contributions and other additions of $1,644,620 and net investment gain of $1,094,223, offset by deductions of $233,608.  Administrative expenses (part of the deductions to the Plan’s net position) totaled $55,838. This consisted of Vanguard record-keeping and compliance testing, consultant and accounting fees. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS 2016  At December 31, the Plan consisted of 343 participants with account balances of $4,938,890 in net position.  Total increase to the Plan’s net position (page 9) amounted to $1,435,339 consisting of Plan contributions and other additions of $1,298,838 and net investment gain of $360,826, offset by deductions of $224,325.  Administrative expenses (part of the deductions to the Plan’s net position) totaled $50,798. This consisted of Vanguard record-keeping and compliance testing, consultant and accounting fees. THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued) Page 4 ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL ACTIVITIES The Plan showed a positive net change of $1,185,229 when compared to original costs. The Target Retirement 2045 Fund had the greatest gain in value for any one individual fund at $280,039. Value at December 31, Net % of Current Fund Name Cost 2017 Change Value Vanguard Group, Inc. Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,288,744$ 1,568,783$ 280,039$ 21.07 % Target Retirement 2050 Fund 739,113 892,179 153,066 11.99 Target Retirement 2040 Fund 737,442 890,425 152,983 11.96 Target Retirement 2035 Fund 724,222 844,806 120,584 11.35 500 Index Fund 303,345 386,588 83,243 5.19 Target Retirement 2055 Fund 423,757 499,884 76,127 6.72 Target Retirement 2025 Fund 445,761 510,553 64,792 6.86 Mid-Cap Index Fund 166,274 215,936 49,662 2.90 Target Retirement 2030 Fund 355,100 404,474 49,374 5.43 International Growth Fund 129,466 169,172 39,706 2.27 Small-Cap Index Fund 112,633 145,743 33,110 1.96 U.S. Growth Fund 131,423 157,854 26,431 2.12 Balanced Index Fund 121,775 143,183 21,408 1.92 Target Retirement 2060 Fund 111,476 127,501 16,025 1.71 Target Retirement 2020 Fund 93,771 105,897 12,126 1.42 Windsor II Fund 110,020 116,699 6,679 1.57 Target Retirement Income Fund 23,103 23,967 864 0.32 Target Retirement 2015 Fund 4,326 4,397 71 0.06 Target Retirement 2065 Fund 122 122 — 0.00 Retirement Savings Trust 70,413 70,413 — 0.95 Prime Money Market Fund 34,204 34,204 — 0.46 Total Bond Market Index Fund 132,406 131,345 (1,061) 1.77 Totals 6,258,896$ 7,444,125$ 1,185,229$ 100.00 % Change in Fund Asset Values - 2017 THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued) Page 5 Value at December 31, Net % of Current Fund Name Cost 2016 Change Value Vanguard Group, Inc. Target Retirement 2045 Fund 974,787$ 1,042,505$ 67,718$ 21.11 % Target Retirement 2040 Fund 548,220 589,016 40,796 11.93 Target Retirement 2050 Fund 538,169 577,742 39,573 11.70 500 Index Fund 193,315 230,755 37,440 4.67 Mid-Cap Index Fund 119,594 144,374 24,780 2.92 Small-Cap Index Fund 104,009 127,011 23,002 2.57 Target Retirement 2035 Fund 495,312 517,876 22,564 10.49 Target Retirement 2025 Fund 339,678 355,033 15,355 7.19 Target Retirement 2055 Fund 312,276 327,043 14,767 6.62 Balanced Index Fund 96,578 107,415 10,837 2.17 Target Retirement 2030 Fund 196,171 205,940 9,769 4.17 Target Retirement 2020 Fund 66,010 69,586 3,576 1.41 Target Retirement 2060 Fund 78,495 81,298 2,803 1.65 U.S. Growth Fund 90,030 91,471 1,441 1.85 Windsor II Fund 81,709 82,833 1,124 1.68 Target Retirement 2015 Fund 5,032 5,078 46 0.10 Retirement Savings Trust 118,733 118,733 — 2.40 Prime Money Market Fund 29,542 29,542 — 0.60 Target Retirement Income Fund 24,462 24,406 (56) 0.49 Target Retirement 2010 Fund 2,272 2,214 (58) 0.04 International Growth Fund 86,416 86,267 (149) 1.75 Total Bond Market Index Fund 125,396 122,752 (2,644) 2.49 Totals 4,626,206$ 4,938,890$ 312,684$ 100.00 % Change in Fund Asset Values - 2016 THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued) Page 6 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 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 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Management’s Discussion And Analysis (Continued) Page 7 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 E-mail: tsnoke@stlmsd.com Change Contributions and Other Additions 1,644,620$ 1,298,838$ $ 345,782 Net Investment Income (Loss)1,094,223 360,826 733,397 Total Additions 2,738,843$ 1,659,664$ $ 1,079,179 Change Distributions to Participants 177,620$ 170,202$ $ 7,418 Administrative Expenses and Legal Fees 55,988 54,123 1,865 Total Deductions 233,608$ 224,325$ $ 9,283 Change Net Increase 2,505,235$ 1,435,339$ $ 1,069,896 Net Position Restricted for Benefits, January 1 4,938,890 3,503,551 1,435,339 Net Position Restricted for Benefits, December 31 7,444,125$ 4,938,890$ $ 2,505,235 2017 2016 Plan Additions, Deductions, and Net Position are as follows: Plan Additions Plan Deductions Net Position 20162017 2017 2016 THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN See the accompanying Notes To Financial Statements. Page 8 STATEMENTS OF FIDUCIARY NET POSITION 2017 2016 ASSETS Investments at Fair Value: Mutual Funds 7,373,712$ 4,820,157$ Investments at Contract Value: Common/Collective Trust 70,413 118,733 Total Investments 7,444,125 4,938,890 NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR PLAN BENEFITS 7,444,125$ 4,938,890$ December 31, THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN See the accompanying Notes To Financial Statements. Page 9 STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN FIDUCIARY NET POSITION 2017 2016 ADDITIONS TO NET POSITION ATTRIBUTED TO: Investment Income: Interest and Dividends on Investments 153,491$ 112,557$ Net Appreciation in Fair Value of Investments 953,766 257,314 Total Investment Income 1,107,257 369,871 Less - Investment Mana gers' and Advisors' Fees 13,034 9,045 Net Investment Income 1,094,223 360,826 Contributions and Other Additions: Employer Contributions 1,593,632 1,240,549 Employee Contributions-Rollovers — 9,166 Plan Expenses Paid by Employer 50,988 49,123 Total Contributions and Other Additions 1,644,620 1,298,838 Total Additions 2,738,843 1,659,664 DEDUCTIONS FROM NET POSITION ATTRIBUTED TO: Distributions to Participants and Beneficiaries 177,620 170,202 Administrative Expenses 55,838 50,798 Le gal Fees 150 3,325 Total Deductions 233,608 224,325 NET INCREASE 2,505,235 1,435,339 NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR PLAN BENEFITS, January 1 4,938,890 3,503,551 NET POSITION RESTRICTED FOR PLAN BENEFITS, December 31 7,444,125$ 4,938,890$ For The Years Ended December 31, THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Page 10 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 Defined Contribution Plan’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 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 $63,186 and $26,376 were recorded in the periods ending December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. 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 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. THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 11 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 established by the District’s Board of Trustees through Ordinance 13180 and became effective January 1, 2011 and is a qualified plan under Section 401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. The following regular, full-time permanent employees are eligible to participate in the Plan: (i) employees first hired on or after January 1, 2011, and (ii) employees hired prior to January 1, 2011 who elected to terminate participation in The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Employees’ Pension Plan, effective as of April 1, 2011, in accordance with the provisions of such Pension Plan, and (iii) employees rehired on or after January 1, 2011 who are not eligible to accrue benefits under The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Employees’ Pension Plan. An employee shall become a participant in the Plan on the first day on which he performs an hour of service for the District. The District’s Board of Trustees, primarily to improve benefits to members, amends the Plan in all its respects. A pension committee consisting of two members of the District’s Board of Trustees, two elected employee members and four members of the District’s management staff administer the Plan. A committee of the District’s Board of Trustees, with the aid of an investment advisor, reviews and evaluates the Plan’s investments and the related rates of return on a periodic basis. The Plan is intended to provide a means whereby the District may provide retirement benefits to eligible employees and encourage such employees to establish a regular method of savings, thereby providing a measure of financial security for such employees and their beneficiaries upon retirement or in the event of death or disability. 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 Employer Basic Contributions For each payroll period, the District contributes an amount equal to 7% of the covered compensation earned during such period by each participant entitled to an allocation of such contribution. THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 12 Employer Matching Contributions For each payroll period, the District contributes an amount equal to 50% of the covered compensation of such participant withholding as an annual deferral (as defined in The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust) pursuant to The Metropolitan St. Louis Sewer District Deferred Compensation Plan and Trust; provided that, before-tax contributions in excess of 4% of the covered compensation of the participant for the payroll period shall not be considered for purposes of Employer Matching Contributions. Employer Matching Contributions shall be up to the maximum amount of compensation that may be taken into account for the Plan year. In no event shall the sum of the employer contributions and employee contributions allocated to the account of a participant for the Plan year exceed the lesser of: (a) The amount specified in the applicable Internal Revenue Code (“Code”), as adjusted annually for any applicable increases in the cost of living. (b) 100% of the participant’s compensation for such year. The compensation limit referred to in (b) shall not apply to any contribution from medical benefits after separation from service. Employee Contributions The Plan will accept a rollover of an eligible rollover distribution from an eligible retirement plan if the Plan Administrator approves the transaction as meeting the Plan’s rules. This is called a “Rollover Contribution” and for the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, $0 and $9,166 were eligible rollover distributions into the Plan, respectively. Participant Accounts The Plan Administrator shall establish and maintain a separate individual account for each participant (which may consist of various sub-accounts established by the Plan Administrator) to reflect the participant’s share of contributions made and the income, loss, appreciation and depreciation attributable to the account. The Plan Administrator shall keep accurate records of all contributions, receipts, investment distributions and all other transactions. The amount credited to the individual account of a participant from time to time as of the most recent valuation date shall constitute the entire interest of the participant in the Plan. THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 13 Vesting As of any time before the normal retirement age of a participant (other than upon death or permanent disability), the vested percentage of the amounts credited to the Participant’s Employer Basic Contributions Account shall be determined in accordance with the following schedule: Months of Service Vested Percentages Less than 12 0% 12 but less than 24 20% 24 but less than 36 40% 36 but less than 48 60% 48 but less than 60 80% 60 100% Normal retirement age is defined as the first day of the month coinciding with or next following a person’s 65th birthday and completion of 60 months of continuous service. The amount credited to the Participant’s Employer Matching Contributions Account shall be fully vested at all times. Investment Options Upon enrollment in the Plan, a participant directs employer contributions in any of the investment options available. The investment options consist of mutual funds and a common/collective trust fund. Employer contributions may be allocated to the Vanguard accounts, in 1% increments, as the participant directs. 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. THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 14 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 2010-2065 Funds and Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund - Investment objective is capital appreciation and current income consistent with its current asset allocation. Distributions Upon a participant’s severance from service, the amount credited to his/her individual account shall be payable to the extent such that it is vested. The value of a participant’s vested individual account balance shall be distributed as soon as administratively feasible. The amount payable to a participant shall be the vested amount credited to his/her individual account as of the valuation date immediately preceding such distribution. This amount shall be distributed in any one or a combination of the following forms as the participant may elect: (a) In one lump sum payment; or (b) In annual, quarterly or monthly installments. Forfeited Accounts Upon a participant’s severance from service, the unvested amount credited to his/her individual account shall be forfeited and credited to the Employer Basic Contributions account and shall be used to reduce future Employer Basic Contributions. If a participant is rehired before incurring two consecutive years break in service, the amount previously forfeited will be restored. If rehired after two consecutive years of break in service, the amounts previously forfeited will not be restored. 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 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 15 3. Investments Investment Balances Investments held by custodians in the Plan’s name are as follows: * Represents 5% or more of the Plan’s net position as of December 31, 2017 or 2016, respectively. Mutual Funds:2017 2016 Vanguard Group, Inc. Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,568,783$ * 1,042,505$ * Target Retirement 2050 Fund 892,179 * 577,742 * Target Retirement 2040 Fund 890,425 * 589,016 * Target Retirement 2035 Fund 844,806 * 517,876 * Target Retirement 2025 Fund 510,553 * 355,033 * Target Retirement 2055 Fund 499,884 * 327,043 * Target Retirement 2030 Fund 404,474 * 205,940 500 Index Fund 386,588 * 230,755 Mid-Cap Index Fund 215,936 144,374 International Growth Fund 169,172 86,267 U.S. Growth Fund 157,854 91,471 Small-Cap Index Fund 145,743 127,011 Balanced Index Fund 143,183 107,415 Total Bond Market Index Fund 131,345 122,752 Target Retirement 2060 Fund 127,501 81,298 Windsor II Fund 116,699 82,833 Target Retirement 2020 Fund 105,897 69,586 Prime Money Market Fund 34,204 29,542 Target Retirement Income Fund 23,967 24,406 Target Retirement 2015 Fund 4,397 5,078 Target Retirement 2065 Fund 122 — Target Retirement 2010 Fund — 2,214 Total Mutual Funds 7,373,712 4,820,157 Common/Collective Trust: Vanguard Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Trust 70,413 118,733 Total Investments 7,444,125$ 4,938,890$ December 31, THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 16 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: AveragePercentage Effective of Debt Plan Investments Fair PercentageDuration Not With Debt Securities Value of Debt in Years Rate d December 31, 2017: Vanguard Group, Inc. Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,568,783$ 10% 6.61 0.57% Target Retirement 2050 Fund 892,179 10% 6.66 0.54% Target Retirement 2040 Fund 890,425 14% 6.66 0.51% Target Retirement 2035 Fund 844,806 21% 6.62 0.90% Target Retirement 2025 Fund 510,553 35% 6.61 1.11% Target Retirement 2055 Fund 499,884 10% 6.60 0.42% Target Retirement 2030 Fund 404,474 28% 6.66 0.72% Balanced Index Fund 143,183 39% 6.15 3.12% Total Bond Market Index Fund 131,345 97% 6.12 0.49% Target Retirement 2060 Fund 127,501 10% 6.65 0.49% Target Retirement 2020 Fund 105,897 43% 6.30 1.10% Retirement Savings Trust 70,413 93% 3.14 0.00% Prime Money Market Fund 34,204 27% * 0.00% Target Retirement Income Fund 23,967 67% 5.67 0.70% Target Retirement 2015 Fund 4,397 55% 5.85 1.47% Target Retirement 2065 Fund 122 10% 6.61 0.48% * 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 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN 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 $7,373,712 and $4,820,157, respectively, are valued using quoted market prices (Level 1 inputs). AveragePercentage Effective of Debt Plan Investments Fair PercentageDuration Not With Debt Securities Value of Debt in Years Rate d December 31, 2016: Vanguard Group, Inc. Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,042,505$ 10% 6.49 0.01% Target Retirement 2040 Fund 589,016 12% 6.48 0.14% Target Retirement 2050 Fund 577,742 10% 6.48 0.00% Target Retirement 2035 Fund 517,876 19% 6.48 0.19% Target Retirement 2025 Fund 355,033 34% 6.48 0.28% Target Retirement 2055 Fund 327,043 10% 6.48 0.00% Target Retirement 2030 Fund 205,940 26% 6.48 0.26% Total Bond Market Index Fund 122,752 98% 6.02 0.57% Retirement Savings Trust 118,733 91% 2.78 0.00% Balanced Index Fund 107,415 39% 6.01 3.55% Target Retirement 2060 Fund 81,298 10% 6.47 0.00% Target Retirement 2020 Fund 69,586 42% 6.29 0.27% Prime Money Market Fund 29,542 30% * 0.00% Target Retirement Income Fund 24,406 68% 5.55 0.28% Target Retirement 2015 Fund 5,078 53% 5.80 0.95% Target Retirement 2010 Fund 2,214 67% 5.59 0.22% * 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 DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN Notes To Financial Statements (Continued) Page 18 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, the Trustee shall liquidate the assets and disburse all funds to participants or their beneficiaries. 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. 8. Tax Status The Plan received a favorable determination letter from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on May 21, 2014, in which the IRS stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Code. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN See the accompanying independent auditors’ report. Page 19 HISTORICAL TREND INFORMATION Employer Contributions, Distributions To For The Rollovers, And Participants Years Ended Expenses Paid Net Investment And Plan Increase December 31, By Employer Income (Loss) Expenses In Net Position 2017 1,644,620$ 1,094,223$ 233,608$ 2,505,235$ 2016 1,298,838 360,826 224,325 1,435,339 2015 1,204,333 (41,012) 106,835 1,056,486 2014 907,020 134,513 98,732 942,801 2013 678,967 204,824 27,154 856,637 2012 420,158 44,390 20,642 443,906 2011 239,482 (5,193) 30,568 203,721 THE METROPOLITAN ST. LOUIS SEWER DISTRICT DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN See the accompanying independent auditors’ report. Page 20 FUND VALUES AND EXPENSE RATIOS This asset-based fee is a measure of what it costs an investment company to operate a mutual fund. An expense ratio is determined through an annual calculation, where a fund’s operating expenses are divided by the average dollar value of its assets under management. Operating expenses are taken out of a fund’s assets, lowering the return in the fund. Lower expense ratios reduce fees coming out of a fund, thus increasing the fund’s rate of return to the participant. The listing below shows all funds and their asset value with their corresponding expense ratio. Value at December 31, Fund Name 2017 Vanguard Group, Inc. Target Retirement 2045 Fund 1,568,783$ 0.16 % Target Retirement 2050 Fund 892,179 0.16 Target Retirement 2040 Fund 890,425 0.16 Target Retirement 2035 Fund 844,806 0.15 Target Retirement 2025 Fund 510,553 0.14 Target Retirement 2055 Fund 499,884 0.16 Target Retirement 2030 Fund 404,474 0.15 500 Index Fund 386,588 0.14 Mid-Cap Index Fund 215,936 0.18 International Growth Fund 169,172 0.45 U.S. Growth Fund 157,854 0.43 Small-Cap Index Fund 145,743 0.18 Balanced Index Fund 143,183 0.19 Total Bond Market Index Fund 131,345 0.15 Target Retirement 2060 Fund 127,501 0.16 Windsor II Fund 116,699 0.33 Target Retirement 2020 Fund 105,897 0.14 Retirement Savings Trust 70,413 0.50 Prime Money Market Fund 34,204 0.16 Target Retirement Income Fund 23,967 0.13 Target Retirement 2015 Fund 4,397 0.14 Target Retirement 2065 Fund 122 0.16 Vanguard Total/Average Ratio 7,444,125$ 0.21 % Expense Ratio