FAR CPA Lessons 237-247 Flashcards
Governmental Accounting Concepts
- Measurement focus and basis of accounting
- Fund accounting concepts and application
- Budgetary process
Governmental financial statements have 3 categories for net position:
- Net investment in capital assets
- Restricted
- Unrestricted
Governmental financial statements have 5 types of Fund balance
- Nonspendable
- Restricted
- Committed
- Assigned
- Unassigned
Types of State and Local Governments (SLGs)
General-purpose governments (cities, states, and counties)
limited or special-purpose governments (school districts, transit authorities, and municipal utility districts)
various agencies and commissions (e.g., employment commission, economic development commission, etc.).
The governmental GAAP hierarchy is established by
GASB Statement No. 76 for fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2015. Statement No. 76 superseded GASB Statement No. 55.
Primary authority for state and local governments
GASB
Two categroies in GASB Statement No. 76 for sources of accounting principles
Category A: Officially established accounting principles; that is, GASB Statements and Interpretations.
Category B: GASB Technical Bulletins, GASB Implementation Guides, and literature of the AICPA cleared by the GASB.
GAAP Hierarchy for state and local governments
- GASB Statements and Interpretations
- GASB Technical Bulletins
- GASB Implementation Guides
- literature of the AICPA cleared by the GASB (GASB Concept Statements)
highest level of authority for setting GAAP for nongovernmental not-for-profit organizations
FASB
financial resources unique to governmental entitie
proceeds from taxation
GASB Concepts Statements
The concepts statement does not establish financial reporting standards—it establishes the conceptual framework to be used by GASB in evaluating existing standards and establishing future standards.
The citizenry
Those to whom government is primarily accountable (e.g., taxpayers, voters, service recipients, the media, advocate groups, public finance researchers)
Legislative and oversight bodies
Those who directly represent the citizens (e.g., state legislatures, county commissions, city councils, board of trustees, school boards)
Investors and creditors
Those who lend or participate in the lending process (e.g., institutional investors, underwriters, bond rating agencies, bond insurers, financial institutions)
Governmental Entities uses of financial reports
- Comparing actual financial reports with the legally adopted budget
- Assessing financial condition and results of operations
- Assisting in determining compliance with finance-related laws, rules, and regulators
- Assisting in evaluating efficiency and effectiveness
important in establishing authoritative guidance by GASB
Accountability and Interperiod equity
Accountability GASB
This is based on the belief that the taxpayer has a “right to know” and is accomplished by providing information to assist users in determining whether the government was operated within the legal constraints imposed by the citizenry.
Interperiod equity GASB
This is a significant part of accountability by showing whether current-year revenues are sufficient to pay for current-year services or whether future taxpayers will be required to assume burdens for services previously provided.
Characteristics of information in financial reporting
TRUCCR
- Timeliness
- Relevance
- Understandability
- Comparability
- Consistency
- Reliability
Service Efforts and Accomplishments Reporting
assists users in assessing accountability and making better informed decisions. However, SEA is voluntary.
Elements of SEA Performance
- Measures of service efforts (inputs)
- Measures of service accomplishments (outputs and outcomes)
- Measures that relate service efforts to service accomplishments (efficiency)
- GASB states that SEA performance information should focus on measures of service accomplishments (outputs and outcomes) and measures that relate service efforts and service accomplishments (efficiency).
Five Elements of the Statement of Financial Position (GASB)
- Assets
- Liabilities
- Deferred outflow of resources
- Deferred inflow of resources
- Net position
Outflow of resources
Consumption of net assets by the government that is applicable to the reporting period
Inflow of resources
Acquisition of net assets by the government that is applicable to the reporting period