Reporting Year: 2024
BARS Alerts & Overview of Changes
BARS Alerts
| Change Date | Changes |
|---|---|
| Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) guidance | |
| PDF of the Cash BARS 2024 | |
| Annual update completed, see changes in table below |
Overview of Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2024
Section Chart of Account
| Section | Topic | Reference | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | Charts of Accounts | Current year change - Update the Codes to Funds matrix, applicable for FY2024 BARS accounts. |
| Chart of Account | Optional - General Ledger Accounts | 1.2 | Changed in 2024 - Added liability code 263.13 Self-insurance and risk pool claims liabilities Created excel file for governments to download, includes GL account numbers and descriptions. *GL Accounts are optional use* |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS codes 331.XX | Current year change - BARS codes 331.XX -Changed the above prescribed title to Federal Direct Awards. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS codes 333.XX | Current year change - BARS codes 333.XX - Changed the above prescribed title to Federal Indirect Awards. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Export | BARS codes 334.XX | Current year change - BARS codes 334.XX - Changed the above prescribed title to State Grants, Awards, and Other Contributions. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 334.01.21 | Current year change - BARS code 334.01.21 - Retired code |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 388.30 | Current year change - BARS code 388.30 - Use this code for corrections of significant/material errors due to mathematical mistake, mistake in the application of accounting principles or oversight/misuse of facts that existed at the time the financial statements were issued. Cash basis governments should use this code when material amounts are refunded to the government (or fund) that are from prior year financial activity. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 388.40 | Current year change - BARS code 388.40 - Use this code to report movement of funds that impact the reporting entity. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 524.20 | Current year change - BARS code 524.20 - Updated description for better clarification on when to use the code. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 524.60 | Current year change - BARS code 524.60 - Updated description for better clarification on when to use the code. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 558.50 | Current year change - BARS code 558.50 - Updated description for better clarification on when to use the code. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 588.30 | Current year change - BARS code 588.30 - Use this code for corrections of significant/material errors due to mathematical mistake, mistake in application of accounting principles or oversight/misuse of facts that existed at the time the financial statements were issued. Cash basis governments should use this code when material amounts are refunded to the government (or fund) that are from prior year financial activity. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS code 588.40 | Current year change- BARS code 588.40 - Use this code to report movement of funds that impact the reporting entity. |
| Chart of Account | BARS Account Exports | BARS codes 591.XX | Current year change - BARS codes 591.XX - Updated description to reference principal payments of interfund loans. |
Section Accounting
| Section | Topic | Reference | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accounting | Fund Accounting and Fund Types | 3.1.7 | Changed in 2024 - This topic has been included with Accounting Principles in prior manuals. Changes include: -moving accounting principles to new section 3.1.10 -creating a new page -reorganizing the page -removing repetitive guidance that is displayed in other areas of the manual -minor clarifications |
| Accounting | Accounting Principles | 3.1.10 | Changed in 2024 - Separated out Accounting Principles from Fund Types and added the accounting and reporting for changes and error correction. |
| Accounting | Special Assessments | 3.2.7 | Changed in 2024 - Reorganized and cleaned up the BARS page. Removed references to GAAP accounting and clarified the cash basis accounting for operating and capital special assessments |
| Accounting | Capital Assets Management | 3.3.8 | Changed in 2024 - Clean-up and clarifications made to this section. Updated federal awards information and requirements. |
| Accounting | Leases and Installment Purchases | 3.4.1 | Changed in 2024 - Clarified and defined variable payments that are fixed in substance. Added guidance for prepaid leases. |
| Accounting | Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans | 3.4.7 | Changed in 2024 - Added the guidance regarding working advances from DSHS. |
| Accounting | Subscription Based Information Technology Arrangement (SBITA) | 3.4.21 | Changed in 2024 - Clarified and defined variable payments that are fixed in substance. Added guidance for prepaid subscriptions. |
| Accounting | Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships (PPP) | 3.4.22 | Changed in 2024 - Clarified and defined variable payments that are fixed in substance. |
| Accounting | Compensated Absences | 3.4.23 | Changed in 2024 - New accounting section for compensated absences calculation due to new accounting standards |
| Accounting | Working Advances from the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) | 3.6.10 | Changed in 2024 - Guidance moved to Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans sections due to reporting requirements of Working Advances |
| Accounting | Federal Awards – Accounting | 3.7.1 | Change in 2024 - Added information on revisions to the Uniform Guidance and clarification of definitions. |
| Accounting | Unemployment and Deferred Compensation | 3.8.1 | Changed in 2024 - Minor clarifications to unemployment compensation, including accounting for claims expenses if the government does not set aside resources to pay future claims. |
| Accounting | Voucher Certification and Approval | 3.8.5 | Changed in 2024 - Incorporated RCW reference and clarified the voucher certification and approval section. |
| Accounting | Voter Registration and Election Cost Allocation | 3.8.12 | Changed in 2024 - Removed the allocation methods and linked to the Secretary of State's Election Cost Allocation and Reimbursement website. |
| Accounting | Interfund Reimbursements | 3.9.4 | Changed in 2024 - Removing GASB references, adding clarifying language to 3.9.4.60 on what is a reimbursement from external parties. |
| Accounting | Overhead Cost Allocation | 3.9.5 | Changed in 2024 - Removal of non-prescriptive guidance. Additional clarification and clean-up. |
| Accounting | Bonds and Revenue Warrants | 3.4.3 | Retired page - Due to changes in RCWs this section is no longer applicable, therefore this section has been retired. |
Section Reporting
| Section | Topic | Reference | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reporting | Risk Management (Schedule 21) | 4.8.9 | Changed in 2024 - Important - review updated section before completing the annual filing schedule. Clarified the definition of self-insurance and self-insurance programs. When this definition applies to the reimbursable method for unemployment and Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFML) – Voluntary Plans. |
| Reporting | Expenditures of Federal Awards (SEFA/Schedule 16) | 4.14.5 | Changed in 2024- Annual update to the SEFA including information about Uniform Guidance updates. |
| Reporting | Liabilities (Schedule 09) | 4.14.13 | Changed in 2024 - Clarified the 263.12 Claims and Judgments code definition and added new code 263.13 for self-insurance and risk pool claims liabilities. |
| Reporting | Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies | Changed in 2024 - Added requirements to disclose the purpose of funds other than the general fund. Moved deposit and investment policy from Note X- Deposits and Investments to this note. Added more detail about the compensated absence policy. Added leases and SBITA threshold disclosures. |
| Reporting | Note X - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections | Note X - Accounting Changes and Error Corrections | Changed in 2024 - New note disclosure for Accounting Changes and Error Corrections. |
| Reporting | Note X – Budget Compliance | Note X – Budget Compliance | Changed in 2024 - Provided guidance for managerial fund budgets. |
| Reporting | Note X - Certain Risk Disclosures | Note X - Certain Risk Disclosures | Changed in 2024 - New note regarding Certain Risk Disclosures, includes disclosure criteria and required disclosure contents. |
| Reporting | Note X – COVID-19 Pandemic | Note X – COVID-19 Pandemic | Changed in 2024 - Removing the COVID-19 Pandemic specific note and allowing governments to use the existing notes for any further disclosures for the pandemic. |
| Reporting | Note X – Long-Term Liabilities (Formerly Long-Term Debt) | Note X – Long-Term Liabilities (Formerly Long-Term Debt) | Changed in 2024 - Changed the title from Long-Term Debt to Long-Term Liabilities. Moved Note X - Interfund Loans to this note and added compensated absences. |
| Reporting | Note X – Other Disclosures | Note X – Other Disclosures | Changed in 2024 - Removed corrections of material errors due to new note regarding accounting changes and error corrections. |
| Reporting | Note X – Pension Plans | Note X – Pension Plans | Changed in 2024 - Annual pension update. |
| Reporting | Note X -Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships (Operator) | Note X -Public-Private and Public-Public Partnerships (Operator) | Changed in 2024 - Removed language related to the implementation period (year 1). |
| Reporting | Note X - SBITA (Lessees) | Note X - SBITA (Lessees) | Changed in 2024 - Removed language related to the implementation period (year 1). |
Section Online Filing
| Section | Topic | Reference | Changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Online Filing | Schedule 01 Templates | BARS Reporting Templates | Schedule 01 templates for online filing schedules have been updated. To access the reporting templates please see BARS Reporting Templates pages. |
| Online Filing | Pension and OPEB Templates | BARS Reporting Templates | Fiscal year 2024 Pension Calculation Worksheet template is available for download. To access the pension template please see the BARS Reporting Templates page. |