Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition — (Continued)
Total other operating income in 2017 was $16,552,000, an increase of $330,000, or 2.0%, compared to 2016. This increase followed an increase of $229,000, or 1.4%, in 2016, compared to 2015. Included in other operating income are net gains on sales of securities of $47,000, $64,000 and $594,000 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Also included in other operating income are net gains on sales of mortgage loans of $370,000, $1,331,000 and $1,034,000 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Service charge income, which continues to be a major source of other operating income, totaling $8,586,000 in 2017, increased $679,000 compared to 2016. This followed an increase of $175,000 in 2016 compared to 2015. The increase in fees, in 2017, was mainly attributable to an increase in fees collected from processing activities and debit card fees. The increase in fees, in 2016, was mainly attributable to an increase in fees collected from processing activities and debit card fees; this was offset somewhat by a decrease in overdraft fees. Lockbox revenues totaled $3,290,000, up $126,000 in 2017 following a decrease of $47,000 in 2016. Other income totaled $3,906,000, up $465,000 in 2017 following an increase of $399,000 in 2016. The increase in 2017 was primarily the result of increases in wealth management fees, and merchant card sales royalties. The increase in 2016 was primarily the result of increases in wealth management fees, merchant and charge card sales royalties, and cash surrender values of life insurance policies.
Operating Expenses
Total operating expenses were $67,119,000 in 2017, compared to $64,757,000 in 2016 and $62,198,000 in 2015.
Salaries and employee benefits expenses increased by $1,865,000 or 4.7% in 2017, after increasing by 3.8% in 2016. The increase in 2017 was mainly attributable to merit increases in salaries, bonus, and health insurance costs. The increase in 2016 was mainly attributable to merit increases in salaries, bonus accruals, pension costs and health insurance costs.
Occupancy expense decreased by $7,000, or 0.1%, in 2017, following an increase of $31,000, or 0.5%, in 2016. The decrease in 2017 was primarily attributable to a decrease in rent expense. The increase in 2016 was primarily attributable to an increase in rent expense.
Equipment expense increased by $47,000, or 1.7%, in 2017, following an increase of $219,000, or 8.3%, in 2016. The increase in 2017 was primarily attributable to an increase in service contracts. The increase in 2016 was primarily attributable to an increase in depreciation expense.
FDIC assessments decreased by $321,000, or 16.9%, in 2017, following a decrease of $250,000, or 11.6%, in 2016. FDIC assessments decreased in 2017 and 2016 mainly as a result of a decrease in the assessment rate.
Other operating expenses increased by $778,000 in 2017, which followed a $1,107,000 increase in 2016. The increase in 2017 was primarily attributable to an increase in contributions, legal expenses, and marketing expenses. The increase in 2016 was primarily attributable to an increase in marketing expenses, telephone expenses, software maintenance costs, contributions, and postage expenses.
Provision for Income Taxes
Income tax expense was 10,958,000 in 2017, $(362,000) in 2016, and $533,000 in 2015. The effective tax rate was 32.9% in 2017, (1.5%) in 2016 and 2.3% in 2015. The increase in the effective tax rate for 2017 was primarily the result of a reduction in the value of the deferred tax asset resulting in a charge of $8,448,000 to income tax expense. On December 22, 2017, the Tax Act was enacted, which lowered the Company’s federal tax rate from 34% to 21%. As a result of the rate reduction, the Company recorded a reduction in the value of its net deferred tax asset. The decrease in the effective tax rate for 2016 was mainly attributable to an increase intax-exempt interest income as a percentage of taxable income. The federal tax rate was 34% in 2017, 2016 and 2015.
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