Each year, the City of Baxter Finance Department issues a Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (Annual Report) that provides a wealth of information about the city's finances.

The Annual Report has three major parts:

1. Introduction - provides general information on the government's structure, services and environment.
2. Financial - contains the basic financial statements, notes to the financial statements, any additional required supplementary information and information on individual funds.
3. Statistical - presents detailed information as a context for understanding what the information in the financial statements, note disclosures, and required supplementary information reveals about the city's overall financial health. The statistical section includes financial trends, revenue capacity, debt capacity, demographic, economic information, and operating information.

The city publishes the Annual Report on its Web site to improve access to the city's financial reporting. As a member of the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA), the city submits the Annual Report to GFOA’s Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting program for review annually.

Excellence in Financial Reporting

The Baxter Finance Department has received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting every consecutive year since 2011. The certificate, awarded by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada, is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting.  Its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.  The City of Baxter’s Annual Report has been judged by an impartial panel to meet the high standards of the program, which includes demonstrating a constructive “spirit of full disclosure” to clearly communicate the city’s financial story.