BARS Alerts
| BARS Manual PDF | PDF of the Cash BARS 2021 |
| 12/17/2021 | Leases accounting is effective for fiscal year 2022 reporting in 2023. See the Leases project page for more information. |
| 12/17/2021 | Annual update, see changes in table below |
Overview of Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2021
| Topic | Reference | Description of Changes |
| Chart of Account | ||
| BARS Account Export | All BARS Codes | Remember to download the most current version of the BARS Chart of Accounts. |
| 344.70 (Transits, Railroads and Other Transportation Systems Services) | 344.70 (Transits, Railroads and Other Transportation Systems Services) - Retired code, please see 344.71 and 344.72 | |
| BARS Account Export | 344.71 (Transits, Railroads and Other Transportation Systems Services) | 344.71 New Code - Include private vanpool charges, streetcar and monorail fares, disabled/aging transportation fees, etc. For cities/counties: this code is not reported on the road/street report to WSDOT. |
| BARS Account Export | 344.72 (Ferry and Water Taxi Services) | 344.72 New Code - Include the proceeds of ferries and water taxis. Include a vessel replacement surcharge fee (RCW 36.54.200) |
| BARS Account Export | 369.70 (Pension/OPEB Contributions) | 369.70 (Pension/OPEB Contributions) Should only be used for contributions made to a pension/OPEB plan administered by the reporting government. Not for use in the fiduciary funds. |
| BARS Account Export | 518.61 (Judgments and Settlements) | 518.61 (Judgments and Settlement) Updated description to include proprietary funds |
| BARS Account Export | 544.70 (Miscellaneous) | 544.70 (Miscellaneous) - Retired, use appropriate 544XX codes |
| BARS Account Export | 547.00 (Transits, Railroads and Other Transportation Systems Services) | 547.00 (Transits, Railroads and Other Transportation Systems Services) - Retired, please see 547.10 and 547.20 |
| BARS Account Export | 547.10 (Transits, Railroads and Other Transportation Systems Services) | 547.10 New Code - This account should be used only if the local government operates its own, or with other governments, transit, railroad or other transportation system. These expenditures are related to public transportation. For cities/counties: this code is not reported on the road/street report to WSDOT. |
| BARS Account Export | 547.20 (Ferry and Water Taxi Services) | 547.20 New Code - This account should only be used if the local government operates its own, or with other governments, ferries and/or water taxis. |
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Accounting |
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| Fund Types & Accounting Principles | 3.1.7 | Internal Service Funds - Added guidance on accounting for internal service funds providing services to fiduciary funds and the use of internal service funds at special purpose districts. |
| County External Investment Pools | 3.2.9 | Updated and clarified this section. Applicable to all counties. |
| Capital Asset Management | 3.3.8 | 3.3.8.10 Added the definition of impairment and the coding of impairment transactions. |
| Refunding Debt | 3.4.14 | 3.4.14.100 Updated the journal entry examples for refunding debt. |
| Environmental and Certain Assets Retirement Liabilities | 3.4.18 | 3.4.18.30, 3.4.18.45, 3.4.18.50 Added clarifications on reporting non-environmental asset retirement obligations and what can cause an asset retirement obligation |
| Criminal Justice Funding | 3.6.4 | 3.6.4.10 Added how to code the sale of confiscated and forfeited items. |
| Impact Fees | 3.6.14 | New section - Added the accounting for impact fees under RCW 82.02 and 39.92.040 |
| Federal Awards - Accounting (Formerly Grants - Accounting) | 3.7.1 | 3.7.1 Changed title to Federal Awards to include all items that must be reported on the Expenditures of Federal Awards (Schedule 16). Updates, changes, and clarifications for reporting awards made throughout. |
| Certain Grants and Other Financial Assistance (Formerly Pass-Through Grants) | 3.7.2 | 3.7.2 Changed title to Certain Grants and Other Financial Assistance to match national standard titles. |
| Purchase Cards | 3.8.4 | 3.8.4.10 Removed references to debit cards Added Additional Reference Section |
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Reporting |
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| Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties | 4.1.5 | 4.1.5.30 Clarified instances where cities/towns and counties do not need to prepare financial statements. |
| Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Special Purpose Districts | 4.1.6 | Added Footnote 2 for no activity governments reporting, no formal Schedule 22, but the government must attach bank statements and any meeting minutes for the fiscal year. 4.1.6.20 Clarified instances where special purpose districts do not need to prepare financial statements. 4.1.6.25 Updated the definition for no financial activity to include small automatic bank fees and SAO audit billings. |
| Revenues/Expenditures/Expenses (Schedule 01) | 4.8.1 | Rewrote the section to provide additional links and instructions. |
| Public Works (Schedule 17) | 4.8.6 | 4.8.6.30 Clarified that the amount reported on the Schedule 17 should include all public works, including county road construction. |
| Risk Management (Schedule 21) | 4.8.9 | 4.8.9.40 Clarified definitions in the instructions to preparer. |
| Annual Questionnaire for Accountability Audit (Schedule 22) | 4.8.14 | 4.8.14.10 Added clarification that governments who file a no activity report will not be required to submit a formal Schedule 22, but will need to submit supporting documents. |
| Expenditures of Federal Awards (Schedule 16) | 4.14.5 | Added Quick Links to specific guidance 4.14.5.70 Added additional information on COVID-19 Expenditures including donated personal protective equipment purchased with COVID-19 federal financial assistance, COVID 19 Vaccines - Immunization Cooperative Agreements CFDA #93.268, Provider Relief Fund (PRF) CFDA #93.498 4.14.5.155 Moved and retitled 4.14.5.230 to Preparing the preformatted SEFA template for upload to Online Filing 4.14.5.180 Added yellow flag caution under column 4 instructions. 4.14.5.230 Changed to example of finalized Schedule of Expenditures of Federal Awards. |
| Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Corrected ending classifications that are different from GAAP bullet. |
| Note X – Joint Ventures, Component Unit(s), and Related Parties | Note X – Joint Ventures, Component Unit(s), and Related Parties | Clarified when a joint venture, component unit and foundation should be reported. Separated related party from the other items. |
| Note X – COVID-19 | Note X – COVID-19 | All local governments must include this note. Provided examples for when there has been no substantial impacts. |
| Note X – Environmental and Certain Asset Retirement Liabilities | Note X – Environmental and Certain Asset Retirement Liabilities | Removed section from Note X - Other Disclosures and provided more examples for different situations. |
| Note X – Other Disclosures | Note X – Other Disclosures | Removed the Environmental and Certain Asset Retirement Liabilities section. |
| Online Filing | ||
| Schedule 01 | Schedule 01 | Schedule 01 templates for online filing schedules have been updated. |
| Pension and OPEB Templates | Pension and OPEB Templates | Fiscal year 2021 Pension and OPEB templates are available for download |
| Online Filing Flag Descriptions | Online Filing Flag Descriptions | Updated the Guide to Online Filing Flag Descriptions to include new red flags. |