Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Each year, the external auditors for Des Moines Public Schools complete a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) reviewing the district’s financial management for the previous fiscal year.

Des Moines Public Schools has been widely recognized for its financial reports. The district routinely earns the Certificate of Achievement from the Government Finance Officers Association and the Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Association of School Business Officials.

Among the highlights of the school district’s most recent CAFR include:

  • The district’s revenues totaled $496,582,332 for the year ended June 30, 2016, a 4.4% increase from the prior year.  Revenues included $30,991,151 in local tax, charges for services $31,441,201, operating grants and contributions of $108,136,309, capital grants and contributions of $101,867, state foundation aid, for general purposes of $195,304,005, property taxes of $127,295,742, and other general revenues of $1,896,437.
  • Expenses for district operations totaled $485,943,210, a 5.6% increase from the prior year.  Expenses included $285,545,061 for instruction, $39,189,530 for plant operation and maintenance, and $23,906,378 for student services.  Expenses for business type activities totaled $23,201,203.
  • The district received an unqualified opinion (the “most valuable” opinion an organization can receive).
  • The district’s financial statements have been assessed by a large public accounting firm to be free of material misstatement.
  • The district’s control environment was deemed to be free of any material weaknesses or significant deficiencies.
  • The district did not incur any significant non-compliance items pertaining to expenditure of public funds.

Copies of CAFRs for the prior recent fiscal years are available below: