Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis

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1 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis 13. Questions and answers in this paragraph address issues related to basic financial statements and management s discussion and analysis. 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Scope and Applicability Q Which governmental units should apply the standards of Statement 34, as amended? A Statement 34 applies to all state and local governmental entities, including general purpose governments, public school districts, public benefit corporations and authorities, public employee retirement systems, public utilities, public hospitals and other healthcare providers, and public colleges and universities. Application of the Statement 34 provisions, as amended, to public colleges and universities was achieved through the issuance of Statement No. 35, Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis for Public Colleges and Universities. 7.3 Minimum Requirements for Basic Financial Statements and Required Supplementary Information Q What are the primary elements of the Statement 34 model? A The minimum requirements for the Statement 34 model, outlined in paragraph 6, are: MD&A as RSI Basic financial statements (government-wide financial statements, fund financial statements, and notes to the financial statements) RSI other than MD&A. Although the standard includes requirements for notes and RSI, these are not intended to be all-inclusive. Current requirements for notes and other types of RSI will continue to be in effect [Not used in GASBIG ] Q Can a government issue only the government-wide financial statements or only the fund financial statements as basic financial statements? A No. Except as provided for qualifying special-purpose governments in paragraphs 138 and 139 of Statement 34 (see Questions ), governments are required to present both the government-wide and the fund financial statements as basic financial statements. Omission of either the government-wide or the fund financial statements would constitute an incomplete presentation and would not meet the minimum requirements for general purpose external financial statements as depicted in paragraph 7 of that Statement Q Can governments combine the government-wide and fund financial statements? A For most governments, the government-wide statements should not be combined with fund financial statements. However, certain single-program governments may combine their government wide and fund financial statements as discussed in paragraph 136 of Statement

2 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Q A special-purpose government is involved in a single governmental activity but also has a pension trust fund. Can the government combine the government-wide and fund financial statements as discussed in paragraph 136 of Statement 34? A Yes. The government can use the combined presentation discussed in paragraph 136 for its governmental activity, but it should also include separate fiduciary fund financial statements, as discussed in paragraph 106 of Statement 34, as amended, for its pension trust fund. The fiduciary fund information would not be included in the combined presentation of governmental activity. 7.4 Assessing Materiality in Preparing Financial Statements Q In preparing financial statements, how should those financial statements be viewed for determining materiality? A Governmental activities, business-type activities, and each major fund are considered to be quantitatively material. Decisions about what should be reported separately in the basic financial statements were based on the understanding that users need financial statements or information to be provided for certain reporting units within a primary government. Some information is required to be reported because of its quantitative significance; other information may be required for qualitative reasons rather than its monetary significance. Materiality determinations, both quantitative and qualitative, made in preparing financial statements should be responsive to, and consistent with, those requirements. That is, requirements in Statement 34 to provide separate financial statements or information are based on the belief that particular reporting units are material. Paragraph 14 of Statement 34 reinforces the concept in Statement 14 that the focus of government-wide statements should be on the primary government as opposed to its component units or the financial reporting entity as a whole. Paragraph 15 of Statement 34 establishes that a primary government is composed of its governmental activities and its business-type activities, and that financial statements for each of those two types of activities should be displayed. Paragraph 75 of that Statement states that the focus of governmental and proprietary fund financial statements is on major funds; that paragraph requires governments to separately report the financial statements or information of certain individual governmental and enterprise funds (based on quantitative measures detailed in paragraph 76, as amended). The significance of governmental and business-type activities and major funds is further emphasized in the note disclosure requirements of Statement 34, as amended. Paragraph 113 states that the notes to financial statements should focus on the primary government specifically, its governmental activities, business-type activities, major funds, and nonmajor funds in the aggregate. Despite the primacy of governmental activities, business-type activities, and major funds, Statement 34 nevertheless provides display requirements for all funds and activities. Paragraph 75 states that nonmajor governmental and enterprise funds should be aggregated and each aggregation should be displayed in a single column in the appropriate fund financial statements. In addition, paragraph 96 requires governments to use a single column in the proprietary fund financial statements to display internal service funds. Finally, paragraph 106 requires that fiduciary fund financial statements include a separate column for each fiduciary 284

3 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis fund type. These display requirements, while appearing to similarly require separate reporting, differ from those for major funds and governmental and business-type activities because they address how to report the financial statements of funds that are outside of the primary focuses discussed above. The components of the remaining fund information nonmajor funds, internal service funds, and fiduciary funds may or may not be quantitatively material. The determination of how the data presented for those reporting units should be assessed should be based on professional judgment considering relevant qualitative factors and the relationship of the remaining fund reporting units to other appropriate information in the financial statements. For example: Quantitative materiality for the aggregated nonmajor (governmental or enterprise) funds or internal service funds could be based on the significance of the column compared to all governmental and proprietary funds. The aggregated internal service funds and the nonmajor enterprise funds also could be evaluated against all proprietary funds. Similarly, the nonmajor governmental funds column might be compared to total governmental funds. The quantitative materiality determination for each fiduciary fund type could be made based on the significance of those funds to all fiduciary funds of the reporting government, or it could be based on the significance of those funds to all funds of the government. In all cases, qualitative materiality aspects should be appropriately considered Q How should the information in the reconciliations be assessed when determining materiality? A Reconciliations explain the differences between results and balances in fund financial statements and their counterpart measurements in the government-wide statements. The reconciliations present details of assets, deferred outflows of resources, liabilities, deferred inflows of resources, revenues, and expenses that should be reported only in the governmentwide statements, and financing sources and uses that should not be reported in the government-wide statements. Consequently, the reconciliations are links to the governmentwide statements and should be considered in conjunction with those statements when assessing materiality Q Paragraph 76 of Statement 34, as amended, permits governments to report as a major fund any other governmental or enterprise fund that the government s officials believe is particularly important to financial statement users. Are those voluntary major funds accorded the same materiality status as the funds that are required to be reported separately based on the percentage criteria in paragraph 76, as amended? A Yes. After a fund is determined to be major, there is no distinction between those that were required to be reported as major and those that were voluntarily designated as major. As discussed in the answer to Question 7.4.1, materiality assessments should consider both quantitative and qualitative characteristics Q Are major component units equivalent to major funds with regard to assessing materiality? A No. There are similarities, but major funds and major component units are not equivalent. Financial statements for major funds and financial information for major component units are required to be separately reported in the basic financial statements. Even though the separate 285

4 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis reporting requirements of major component units and major funds appear to be similar, the criteria used to determine major funds differ from the considerations involved in selecting major component units, and there are other important differences for example: Paragraph 75 of Statement 34 requires governments to present each major fund in a separate column in the appropriate fund financial statements. Governments can meet the major component unit reporting requirements of Statement 14, as amended, in three ways: by using multiple columns and rows in the government-wide financial statements, by including combining statements in the basic statements, or by presenting condensed financial information in the notes. Paragraph 125 of Statement 34 states that the component unit overview reporting requirements in Statement 14, as amended, are met by discrete presentation in the government-wide statements. If major component units are not displayed separately in the government-wide statements, major component unit reporting (in combining statements or notes) provides the supporting details of that overview presentation, as indicated in paragraphs 11 and 51 of Statement 14, as amended. In contrast, major funds are regarded as separate reporting units rather than supporting details of a fund category or the government-wide statements. Disclosures for a major component unit are required if deemed essential for fair presentation of the reporting entity s financial statements (paragraph 63 of Statement 14, as amended). Disclosures for major funds are accorded a higher level of significance in paragraph 113 of Statement 34, which states that the notes should focus on the primary government specifically, its governmental activities, business-type activities, major funds, and nonmajor funds in the aggregate (emphasis added). Separate audited financial statements are generally issued for major (and nonmajor) component units. The information presented in the reporting entity s financial statements may be taken from those separate financial statements without substantive modification. Those differences should be considered in making materiality determinations for major component units when preparing the reporting entity s financial statements Q In preparing financial statements, how should the financial information of major component units be assessed for determining materiality? A Major individual discretely presented component units should be assessed considering the characteristics of major component unit information discussed in the answer to Question 7.4.4, and based on an evaluation about the nature and significance of the component unit s relationship to the primary government Q If there are no major component units, all that is required by Statement 14, as amended, is discrete presentation of the aggregated (or in some instances, a single) nonmajor component units in the government-wide statements. How should materiality be assessed for component unit information when there are no major component units? A Determining how that information should be assessed should be based on professional judgment, considering relevant qualitative factors and the relationship of the nonmajor component unit information to other appropriate information in the financial statements. For example, quantitative materiality of the component unit information might be determined based on its significance compared to governmental activities and business-type activities. Alternatively, it could be compared to major funds. 286

5 7.5 Management s Discussion and Analysis Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Q For governments that prepare a CAFR, should MD&A be placed before or after the letter of transmittal? A Paragraph 8 of Statement 34 requires only that MD&A precede the basic financial statements; however, it should be presented as part of the financial section of a CAFR. The letter of transmittal remains a part of the introductory section. Because the scope of the letter of transmittal introduces the CAFR, and because MD&A derives from the basic financial statements and generally limits its discussion and analysis to information in those statements, a logical progression would be to move from the letter of transmittal, to MD&A, to the basic financial statements. In addition, to place the letter of transmittal between MD&A (which is RSI) and audited basic financial statements might imply a higher level of auditor involvement with the letter of transmittal than is actually the case Q How should the letter of transmittal be modified to avoid duplication with MD&A? A Some of the minimum requirements for the contents of MD&A set forth in paragraph 11 of Statement 34, as amended, could be similar to the information previously presented in the letter of transmittal. Governments that prepare a CAFR will present both a letter of transmittal and MD&A. Paragraph 8 (footnote 7) of Statement 34 states: If a letter of transmittal is presented in the introductory section of a comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR), governments are encouraged not to duplicate information contained in MD&A. There are no authoritative requirements for letter of transmittal contents. Because MD&A is required (as RSI) and a letter of transmittal is optional, governments cannot choose which medium to use to communicate the duplicate information it should be included in MD&A. As a result, letters of transmittal should be modified to minimize duplication. Preparers should compose their letters of transmittal to avoid redundancy with MD&A. In areas where duplication could occur, the letter of transmittal could refer to the relevant discussion in MD&A and add insights that may go beyond the boundaries of MD&A. The letter of transmittal also provides a forum for government officials to discuss plans and other information that may not meet the currently known facts, decisions, or conditions criterion in paragraph 11h of Statement Q Is any discussion of component units in MD&A confined to comments about individual component units, or is a government permitted to refer to its component units in the aggregate or by groups? A Paragraph 10 of Statement 34 states that a decision to discuss component units should be based on an individual component unit s significance and its relationship to the primary government. Thus, discussion in MD&A generally should be focused on individual component units. However, in some situations discussion of component units in the aggregate may be appropriate. For example, a state university may have multiple fund-raising foundation component units, all of which have virtually identical relationships with the university. The reasoning behind the individual focus stipulated in paragraph 10 of Statement 34, and in paragraph 63 of Statement 14, as amended, is that there generally is a wide variety of relationships that exist in a primary government/component unit setting, and such variety makes discussion and analysis in the aggregate difficult. 287

6 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Q If a government (a single-program government or a BTA, for example) presents comparative financial statements, would the government be required to present one MD&A for the current year and a second, separate MD&A for the prior year (each with comparative data from the preceding year)? A No. If the government provides comparative financial statements (that is, basic financial statements and RSI are presented for both years), MD&A is required to address both years presented in the comparative financial statements. Completely separate MD&As are not required. The MD&A should provide data so that each of the two years presented in the comparative financial statements can be compared to its prior year. Therefore, there should be three years of comparative data the current year, the prior year, and the year preceding the prior year. The related analysis should cover two periods from the year preceding the prior year to the prior year, and from the prior year to the current year. (See Question about presenting comparative data.) [Not used in GASBIG ] Q If a government (engaged in both governmental and business-type activities, for example) presents comparative data (for example, total reporting entity columns for the current and prior years in the government-wide statements) in its basic financial statements, are the MD&A requirements in paragraph 11 of Statement 34, as amended, required to be met for both years presented? A No. If the government presents comparative data (as distinguished from a complete set of comparative statements, notes, and RSI), the requirements in paragraph 11, as amended, should be met for the current year (with comparisons to the prior year) Q Paragraph 11 of Statement 34, as amended, identifies the contents of MD&A in subparagraphs a h. Are governments permitted to discuss other issues, not included in the requirements of paragraph 11, in MD&A? A No. Because MD&A is regarded as RSI, the information presented should be limited to the areas required in subparagraphs a h, as amended. Nevertheless, each specific requirement in paragraph 11, as amended, if applicable, should be addressed as described in the respective subparagraphs. Some governments will provide only minimal information to meet each requirement, whereas others will provide additional analytical or descriptive data. There is no limit (other than perhaps readability) to the information that may be provided if it provides additional details about the required elements in those subparagraphs. For example, a government may meet the requirements of paragraph 11h by focusing the discussion (of expected significant effects on financial position and results of operations) on its governmental and business-type activities. Governments are not required to discuss the effects as they relate to individual functions or programs in the statement of activities but may choose to do so depending on the specific facts and the significance of the amounts. Additionally, service efforts and accomplishments (SEA) or performance data, as separate categories of information, are not among the required contents of MD&A in paragraph 11, as amended, and therefore should not be included. However, selected SEA or performance measures may be included in MD&A if they provide additional details about required information. For example, performance measures may add relevant insights into why certain operating results differ from one year to the next. 288

7 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Information that does not address the required elements discussed in subparagraphs a h, as amended, should not be included in MD&A but may be reported as supplementary information and could be discussed in the letter of transmittal Q Paragraph 11 of Statement 34, as amended, explains what should be in MD&A and states that only the most relevant information should be included. Based upon that notion, should paragraph 11d be interpreted to mean that only major funds are required to be addressed? A The analysis of balances and transactions of individual funds, as required by paragraph 11d, would normally be confined to major funds. Nevertheless, governments can discuss transactions or significant changes in account balances of nonmajor funds Q Paragraph 11a of Statement 34 requires MD&A to provide information to assist readers in understanding why measurements and results reported in fund financial statements either reinforce information in government-wide statements or provide additional information. How might governments meet this requirement? A The primary objective of the requirement in paragraph 11a is to help readers of MD&A understand the relationship of the results reported in the governmental funds financial statements to the results reported for governmental activities in the government-wide statements. For example, if the statement of activities reports a significant decrease in the net position of governmental activities and the fund financial statements show an increase in the fund balances of the governmental funds, MD&A should explain why that occurred. The explanation could be that significant bond proceeds were received and capital expenditures were unusually low in capital project funds, or that some long-term liabilities were reported in the government-wide statements that did not affect the governmental funds. The causes of differences should be evident in the reconciliations accompanying the fund financial statements (see paragraph 77), but MD&A should provide an overview of that information, in narrative fashion, to meet the requirement of paragraph 11a. On the other hand, if the reasons for the change in net position of governmental activities and the change in fund balances of governmental funds are similar, MD&A should note that similarity Q Paragraph 9 of Statement 34 encourages the use of charts and graphs in MD&A. Can the comparison of condensed financial information required by paragraph 11b, as amended, of that Statement be provided with charts and graphs? A No. The information required by paragraph 11b, as amended, should be presented in the form of condensed financial statements. Charts and graphs may be used to supplement, or elaborate on, information in the condensed statements, but should not be used in place of them. For example, a comparative bar graph could be used to display the net program costs of selected functions that are not apparent in the limited detail of the condensed statements of activities. Paragraph 9 further provides that the information in MD&A, including illustrative charts and graphs, should address the positive and negative aspects of the comparison. (See the illustrative MD&A in nonauthoritative Appendix B7-1, Illustration A.) Q In the discussion of significant general fund budget variances required by paragraph 11e of Statement 34, is it sufficient to state that the original budget was increased to cover higherthan-expected expenditures? A No. MD&A is required to provide an analysis of significant budget variances. The analysis should discuss reasons for those variances including those that are expected to significantly 289

8 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis affect future services or liquidity. MD&A should explain why the variances occurred (for example, the factors that contributed to expenditures exceeding budgeted amounts). The analysis may refer the reader to discussions of those reasons presented in other sections of the MD&A Q Paragraph 11f of Statement 34 requires governments to include in MD&A a discussion of long-term debt activity during the year. Should that discussion include special assessment debt for which the government is not obligated in any manner? A No. Special assessment debt for which the government is not obligated in any manner is not debt of the government (under Statement No. 6, Accounting and Financial Reporting for Special Assessments, such special assessment debt is only disclosed, not displayed) and is not required to be included in the discussion of long-term debt activity. However, such debt might be discussed in connection with capital asset activity if, for example, the proceeds were used to build or acquire significant infrastructure assets for the government Q What are currently known facts, decisions, or conditions that may need to be discussed in MD&A to comply with the requirements in paragraph 11h of Statement 34? A As explained in footnote 6 to paragraph 8 of Statement 34, currently known means to have been aware of as of the date of the auditor s report. The key word in this requirement is known that is, this discussion should be based on events or decisions that have already occurred or have been enacted, adopted, agreed upon, or contracted. Governments should not discuss in MD&A the possible effect of events that might happen (although such matters could be addressed in the letter of transmittal). The award and acceptance of a major grant, the adjudication of a significant lawsuit, a significant change in the property tax base, the completion of an agreement to locate a major manufacturing plant in a city, an adopted increase in a state s sales tax rate, an approved increase in a university s tuition, a flood that caused significant damage to a government s infrastructure, and a renegotiated labor contract with government employees are just a few examples of facts, decisions, or conditions that are expected to have a significant effect on financial position or results of operations. On the other hand, predicting how much sales tax revenues would increase if a planned shopping mall is built or that a data-processing system under consideration will pay for itself over a certain period of time would be examples of statements that are not based on currently known facts, decisions, or conditions. In some instances, issues discussed in MD&A as currently known facts will also be disclosed in the notes to the financial statements as subsequent events or contingencies. The discussion in MD&A should highlight but not repeat the information required to be disclosed in the notes Q Paragraph 11h of Statement 34, as amended, requires a discussion of currently known facts, decisions, or conditions that are expected to have a significant effect on financial position (net position) or results of operations (revenues, expenses, and other changes in net position). Should that discussion separately address the expected effect on governmental and businesstype activities? A Yes. Paragraph 11c of Statement 34 requires that the analysis of the government s overall financial position and results of operations should separately address both governmental and business-type activities. The requirement in paragraph 11h should have the same focus; that is, the discussion should address expected effects on both governmental and business-type activities. 290

9 7.6 Government-Wide Financial Statements 7.7 Basis of Presentation Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Q Paragraph 14 of Statement 34 states that prior-year data may be presented in the government-wide statements. What information should be presented if a government chooses to provide prior-year data? A Comparative data are not required, but may be provided so there is no specific presentation that should be made. The practicality of presenting prior-year information is often a function of the complexity of the reporting government. A government with only governmental or business-type activities and no component units could provide a side-by-side single-column comparison in the statement of net position. At the other extreme, a government with both governmental and business-type activities and component units (and the required total column for the primary government) would have to add at least four columns to offer a full comparison, or add a total column for the reporting entity (optional) and its counterpart from the prior year to provide for a reporting entity comparison. Presenting comparative data for the statement of activities again depends on the complexity of the operations of the reporting government. A government with only governmental activities and no component units could add a prior-year net (expense) revenue and changes in net position column. However, the comparison becomes more difficult and space-consuming as more columns are presented (governmental activities, business-type activities, total primary government, and component units) for the current year. Governments with complex structures and operations may find that the most useful comparisons (especially for the statement of activities) can be made only if the prior-year statements are reproduced and included with the current-year statements of net position and activities. In all cases, the prior-year information should be clearly identified and distinguished from the current-year statements. (See Questions and about comparative information in MD&A.) Q If a government accounts for certain assets held for others (certain deposits, for example) in a governmental or proprietary fund, rather than in a separate fiduciary fund, does paragraph 13 of Statement 34, as amended, require those assets and liabilities to be eliminated for the statement of net position? A No. Those assets and liabilities may be eliminated, but elimination is not required. Because the assets would equal the liabilities, there would be no effect on net position or the statement of activities Q In the statement of activities, can the reporting government combine as a single function (higher education, for example) the data of the primary government and a discretely presented component unit? A No. Paragraph 42 of Statement 14, as amended, requires that financial statements of the reporting entity provide an overview of the entity, yet allow users to distinguish between the primary government and its component units. Even though this combined single-function approach would report the net (expense) revenue of the component unit in a separate column, users would not be able to distinguish between the expenses and program revenues of the primary government and its component units. Paragraph 14 of Statement 34 expands the meaning of discrete presentation to cover separate rows as well as columns. It states, 291

10 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Separate rows and columns should be used to distinguish between the total primary government and its discretely presented component units Q Can activities that are accounted for in enterprise funds a transit system, for example be reported as governmental activities in the government-wide statements? A Yes. The terms activity and fund are not synonymous; that is, activity generally refers to programs or services, whereas a fund is an accounting and reporting device. A single fund could account for several activities and a single activity could be accounted for in multiple funds. As indicated in paragraph 15 of Statement 34, the statement of activities usually follows the categorizations used in the fund financial statements governmental activities are those that usually are accounted for in governmental funds, and business-type activities are those that usually are accounted for in enterprise funds. Nevertheless, governments can realign their activities if they believe that this would more faithfully represent their operating objectives and philosophies. The reconciliations from the governmental and enterprise fund financial statements to the government-wide statements would explain the reclassification Q Can an activity accounted for in an enterprise fund be combined with activities accounted for in governmental funds and reported as governmental activities in the government-wide statements? For example, can a city combine its parks department (accounted for in the general fund) and its driving range enterprise fund as a parks and recreation governmental program in the statement of activities? A Yes, if the minimum requirements in paragraph 10 of Statement No. 37, Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis for State and Local Governments: Omnibus, are satisfied. That paragraph provides that activities accounted for in governmental funds should be presented at least at the level of detail required in the governmental fund statement of revenues, expenditures, and changes in fund balances, and that activities accounted for in enterprise funds should be presented by different identifiable activities. Therefore, the city could combine its parks department and its driving range operation as a single governmental program unless the driving range is a different identifiable activity or the parks department is a required functional category in the fund financial statements. Nevertheless, if the paragraph 10 requirements prohibit combination, both items could be separately reported as governmental activities under a parks and recreation heading. The reconciliations from the governmental and enterprise fund financial statements to the government-wide statements would explain the reclassification of the driving range enterprise fund Q A county government issues debt to finance the construction of school facilities for the local school district, a discretely presented component unit of the county. The county reports the debt and the school district reports the capital assets (see Questions and ); therefore, the debt is not considered to be capital-related debt of the county. In the reporting entity financial statements, if the county elects to present an optional reporting entity total column, can the debt be reported as capital debt in that total column? A Yes. When the total reporting entity is presented as the reporting unit, the debt is related to capital assets within that reporting unit. Consequently, the unrestricted component of net position and the net investment in capital assets component of net position of the reporting entity are not equal to a simple combination of those net position components of the primary government and its component units. An explanation of the reclassification could be presented in the notes to the financial statements. 292

11 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis 7.8 Measurement Focus and Basis of Accounting [Not used in GASBIG ] [Not used in GASBIG ] Q A government that provides pensions to its employees through a single-employer plan issues tax-supported general obligation bonds to fund the pensions provided to its employees. How should the pension obligation bonds be reported? A The pension obligation bonds should be reported as a governmental activities liability (bonds payable) in the statement of net position. If the pensions are within the amended scope of Statement 27, the government now recognizes a long-term accounting liability where no long-term pension-related liability was quantified or recognized before. (The unfunded actuarial liability under Statement 27 is not an accounting liability.) If the pensions are within the scope of Statement 68 to the extent that the contribution is reported as an addition to the pension plan s fiduciary net position, the net pension liability would be reduced by the amount of the bond proceeds remitted to the pension plan through the measurement date, and a deferred outflow of resources related to pensions would be reported for the amount of proceeds remitted to the pension plan subsequent to the measurement date. If the proceeds are instead used to satisfy a payable to the defined benefit pension plan, the payable would be reduced by amounts remitted to the pension plan through the employer s fiscal year-end. Under either Statement 27 or Statement 68, if any proceeds of the bonds have not been remitted to the pension plan, they should be included in the governmental activities assets Q If a government accounts for its risk-financing activities in its general fund (using the modified accrual basis of accounting), how should its claims liabilities and expenses be recognized in its government-wide financial statements? A The requirements for claims liability and expense recognition on the accrual basis are provided in Statement 10, paragraphs 53 57, as amended. (See Question and Illustration 1 in nonauthoritative Appendix B3-5.) Q What are the recognition and reporting requirements for a government s OPEB expense and liability in the government-wide financial statements? A Governments that provide OPEB as part of the compensation to employees for their services to the government should follow the requirements of Statement 45, as amended. For sole and agent employers, Statement 45 requires accrual-basis accounting for OPEB expense with the measurement of expense derived from the annual required contributions, an actuarially computed amount, and disclosure or presentation of information about the plan s funded status and funding progress and the employer s contributions in comparison to the calculated annual OPEB cost. For cost-sharing employers, Statement 45 requires measurement of expense based on an employer s contractually required contribution to the plan and does not require disclosure or presentation of information about the funded status and funding progress of the 293

12 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis plan or the employer s contributions in comparison to annual OPEB cost. For single-employer or agent multiple-employer healthcare plans that cover both active employees and retirees, Statement 45 requires separate accounting for the postemployment benefit portion based on claims costs, or age-adjusted premiums approximating claims costs, for retirees Q Are governments required to use the consumption method of accounting for inventories in the government-wide statement of net position? A Yes. The consumption method of inventory accounting is consistent with the economic resources measurement focus and the accrual basis of accounting required in the governmentwide statements. Thus, if the government uses the purchases method in its governmental funds and the consumption method produces different results, the difference should be included in the reconciliations of governmental funds to governmental activities Q A government makes economic development loans to private parties at interest rates below commercially available lending rates. Statement 62, paragraph 180, generally prescribes discounting loans or notes receivable that earn interest at below-market rates. Is the government required to discount the loan at a higher imputed interest rate per Statement 62 and recognize additional interest income? A No. Because the government makes the low-interest loan to carry out governmental objectives, it makes the market for the loan. The market rate is the rate that the government charges Q Paragraph 7 of Statement No. 29, The Use of Not-for-Profit Accounting and Financial Reporting Principles by Governmental Entities, stated that enterprise funds (business-type activities) should not apply FASB Statements and Interpretations whose provisions are limited to not-for-profit organizations... or address issues concerning primarily such organizations. However, Statement 29 was superseded by Statement 62. Can business-type activities apply FASB standards whose provisions are limited to or primarily address not-for-profit organizations? 7.9 Capital Assets A No. Business-type activities are not considered not-for-profit activities and should not apply guidance for not-for-profit organizations. See also Section Z.42 in paragraph 17 for information regarding impairment of capital assets and Question regarding note disclosures about capital assets. In addition, Sections 7.12 and discuss issues related to infrastructure reporting Q What are land improvements? A Land improvements consist of betterments, other than buildings, that ready land for its intended use. Examples of land improvements include site improvements such as excavation, fill, grading, and utility installation; removal, relocation, or reconstruction of property of others, such as railroads and telephone and power lines; retaining walls; parking lots; fencing; and landscaping Q Are library books depreciable capital assets? 294

13 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis A If library books are considered to have a useful life of greater than one year, they are capital assets and are depreciable. Because most library collections consist of a large number of books with modest values, group or composite depreciation methods (as discussed in paragraphs of Statement 34) may be appropriate. (See Question ) In certain situations, library books may be considered works of art or historical treasures and could be reported using the provisions in paragraphs of Statement Q What is an inexhaustible capital asset? A An inexhaustible capital asset is one whose economic benefit or service potential is used up so slowly that its estimated useful life is extraordinarily long. Land and certain land improvements are inexhaustible capital assets [Not used in GASBIG ] Q Does Statement 34 prescribe a minimum level for the capitalization of assets? A No. Different types of assets, subsystems, or networks may have different capitalization thresholds, the dollar value above which asset acquisitions are added to the capital asset accounts. Additionally, qualitative characteristics may also affect capitalization policies. Different thresholds may be established and used for purposes other than financial reporting for example, for management control purposes or for compliance with laws and regulations. Paragraph 115e of the Statement requires disclosure of capitalization policies, which include capitalization thresholds. (See also Question ) Q Is title to an asset always equivalent to ownership? A For the purposes of Statement 34, as amended, ownership is considered a collection of rights to use and enjoy property, including the right to transmit it to others. For assets held for public benefit, such as roads, the right to use and enjoy property includes the right to determine how the property is used. All rights may not be vested in a single entity. The term title is used to refer to the right to or ownership of an asset and is also used to refer to the evidence of such ownership. Title may be evidence of legal ownership; however, that ownership may be held for the entity s own benefit or for the benefit of another entity. Generally, holding title to an asset equates to ownership, and the entity that holds title to an asset should report the asset in its financial statements. However, the facts and circumstances of the situation should be considered. There may be instances in which title is held by one entity, yet some rights of ownership are held by another entity. For example, the lessee reports assets under a capital lease although the lessor holds title Q The federal government often retains a reversionary interest in capital assets purchased by state and local governments with federal awards. Should state and local governments report these capital assets? A Yes. Although property records may indicate that the capital assets were acquired with federal funds and the federal government retains a reversionary interest in the salvage values of the assets, the state or local government is the party that uses the assets in its activities and makes the decisions regarding when and how the assets will be used and managed. The historical cost of these assets should be reported in the state or local government s statement of net position, and depreciation expense, if applicable, for these assets should be included in the expenses for the function that uses the assets. 295

14 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Q Should a government s capitalization policy be applied only to individual assets or can it be applied to a group of assets acquired together? Consider a government that has established a capitalization threshold of $5,000 for equipment. If the government purchases 100 computers costing $1,500 each, should the computers be capitalized? A Authoritative pronouncements do not address the manner in which a capitalization policy should be established and applied. Capitalization policies adopted by governments include many considerations such as finding an appropriate balance between ensuring that all significant capital assets, collectively, are capitalized and minimizing the cost of record keeping for capital assets. It may be appropriate for a government to establish a capitalization policy that would require capitalization of certain types of assets whose individual acquisition costs are less than the threshold for an individual asset. Computers, classroom furniture, and library books are assets that may not meet the capitalization policy on an individual basis, yet might be considered material collectively Q When a capital asset is transferred within the same financial reporting entity, should the recipient fund (for example, enterprise fund) or component unit record the transferred asset at cost with related accumulated depreciation or as a single amount representing the net carrying value? A Statement 34, paragraph 18, requires that capital assets be reported at historical cost. In an intra-entity transfer, as required by paragraph 15 of Statement 48, historical cost is not changed, so the recipient should record the asset at its cost and report the accumulated depreciation. (See Question Z.48.4.) 7.10 Capitalization of Construction-Period Interest [Not used in GASBIG ] [Not used in GASBIG ] Q Statement 37, paragraph 6, clarifies that construction-period interest on assets used in governmental activities should not be capitalized. If capital assets that will be used in enterprise funds are financed with general long-term debt, should a portion of the interest on that debt be capitalized as construction-period interest? A Generally, no. Paragraph 46 of Statement 34 states that interest on general long-term debt generally should not be allocated to functions or programs as a direct expense. Therefore, unless the debt is expected to be retired by the enterprise fund (see Question ), it is considered general long-term debt, and construction-period interest should not be included in the cost of the capital assets constructed. The interest capitalization requirement in Statement 62, paragraphs 11 20, does not require or anticipate matching specific debt to specific assets. Generally, that Statement requires a portion of all interest expense to be allocated to the costs of all assets under construction during the period. Therefore, if the enterprise fund has any type of debt, the portion of the interest expense that theoretically could have been avoided generally should be capitalized as part of the cost of assets constructed during the period. (See Question about capitalized interest for tax-exempt borrowings.) 296

15 Basic Financial Statements and Management s Discussion and Analysis Q Should capitalized interest be removed from the cost of capital assets that are transferred from an enterprise fund to be used in governmental activities? A No. The assets transferred should be reported at their depreciated historical cost (net book value). Construction-period interest is not capitalized on general governmental capital assets primarily because of the requirement in paragraph 46 of Statement 34 to report interest expense separately in the statement of activities as a period cost. Removing the capitalized interest element from the cost of the asset transferred would not affect the interest expense reported for governmental activities in the statement of activities Q Should capitalized interest be removed from the cost of capital assets of enterprise funds that are reported as governmental activities in the government-wide statements? A No. Paragraph 18 of Statement 34, as amended, requires capital assets to be reported in the statement of net position at their historical cost. The historical cost of enterprise fund capital assets may include a capitalized interest element Q A government uses an enterprise fund to account for a specific activity, but is not required to do so, pursuant to the criteria in paragraph 67 of Statement 34, as amended. Does the requirement to capitalize construction period interest apply to capital asset construction in that fund? A Yes. If a government chooses to report an activity in an enterprise fund, all requirements for enterprise fund reporting should be followed. Only capital assets pertaining to governmental activities are exempt from the construction period interest capitalization requirement Q Should Build America Bonds and similar bonds discussed in Question Z be considered to be tax exempt for the purpose of determining interest that should be capitalized for capital assets constructed with the proceeds of those bonds? A No. Those bonds are taxable and the requirements for tax-exempt borrowings in footnote 6 and paragraphs 19 and 20 of Statement 62 do not apply Presentation in the Statement of Net Position Q Should construction in progress be included in capital assets? A Yes. Construction in progress should be included with capital assets in the statement of net position. It should be reported with other assets not being depreciated, such as land, certain land improvements, and infrastructure accounted for using the modified approach. (See Question about presentation of capital assets on the statement of net position.) Q How should accumulated depreciation be reported on the statement of net position? A Accumulated depreciation may be netted against capital assets or may be reported separately. Regardless of the presentation in the statement of net position, the notes to the financial statements should disclose accumulated depreciation separately in addition to changes in accumulated depreciation Q Are assets not being depreciated such as land, certain land improvements (see Question ), construction in progress, and infrastructure assets reported using the modified 297