Chapter 4: Governmental Accounting — Fund StructureFor governmental entities to ensure the proper segregation of resources and to maintain proper accountability, the accounting system should be organized and operated on a fund basis. Each fund is a separate fiscal entity and is established to conduct specific activities and attain objectives in accordance with statutes, laws, regulations, and restrictions or for specific purposes. A fund is defined in GASB Codification Section 1300 as a fiscal and accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts recording cash and other financial resources, together with all related liabilities and residual equities or balances, and changes therein, which are segregated for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with special regulations, restrictions, or limitations. Show GASB Statement 34 modified the structure of two categories of funds used by local governmental entities. Specifically, the following two new types of funds were introduced:
GASB Statement 34 eliminated expendable and nonexpendable trust funds to focus fiduciary reporting on resources held for parties external to the reporting government: individuals, private organizations, and other governments. Fiduciary funds, therefore, cannot be used to support the government's own programs. As noted above, a nonexpendable trust fund that supports the government's own programs is reported as a permanent fund. It should be noted that an expendable trust that supports a government's own programs would be reported as a special revenue fund. In summary, there are three categories of funds as follows:
Additional information on governmental fund structure may be found in chapter 5. Major FundsThe concept of major fund reporting was introduced and defined by GASB Statement 34 to simplify the presentation of fund information and to focus attention on the major activities of the reporting entity. Rather than requiring each type of fund to be individually presented, Statement 34 requires the individual presentation of only major funds, with all other funds combined into a single column. This reduces the number of funds presented on the face of the financial statement and directs the focus to the significant funds of the reporting entity. Major fund reporting is applied only to governmental funds (i.e., general, special revenue, debt service, capital project, and permanent funds) and enterprise funds. Internal service funds are excluded from the major fund reporting requirements. Fiduciary fund information is presented by type of fund rather than by major funds. GASB defines major funds as those meeting the following criteria:
Both criteria must be met in the same element (assets, liabilities, etc.) for a fund to be defined as major. However, GASB Statement 34 permits a government to designate a particular fund that is of interest to users as a major fund and to individually present its information in the basic financial statements, even if it does not meet the criteria. However, a government does not have the option to not report a fund as major if it meets the criteria above. It should be noted that in applying the major fund criteria to enterprise funds, the reporting entity should consider both operating and nonoperating revenues and expenses, as well as gains, losses, capital contributions, additions to permanent endowments, and special items. When the major fund criteria are applied to governmental funds, revenues do not include other financing sources and expenditures do not include other financing uses. However, special items would be included. Top What is reported in a private purpose trust fund?These funds are used to report trust arrangements under which the income and principal benefits individuals, private organizations, or other governments. Examples are moneys or other assets donated to school districts for scholarship, student aid, charitable, and other like uses.
Which financial statements are required for a private purpose trust fund?What financial statements are used for Private Purpose Trust Funds? A statement of changes in fiduciary net position and a statement of fiduciary net position are prepared for Private Purpose Trust Funds.
Where are fiduciary funds reported?Fiduciary fund activities are reported in the fiduciary fund financial statements of the basic financial statements (Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) 84, ¶14).
How are fiduciary funds reported?Financial statements of fiduciary funds should be reported using the economic resources measurement focus and the accrual basis of accounting, except for the recognition of certain liabilities of defined benefit pension plans and certain postemployment healthcare plans.
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