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BARS Cash Manual

 

General Ledger Accounts

1 Charts of Accounts

1.2 General Ledger Accounts

1.2.10 The specific account numbers contained here are not prescribed, with an exception for selected liabilities accounts which are required to be reported on the Schedule of Liabilities (Schedule 09). Use of general ledger accounts in cash basis governments is optional. This general ledger has been carefully designed to meet several needs.

1.2.20 First, the accounts provide for identification of assets, deferred outflows, liabilities, deferred inflows and fund balances/net position that any local government fund might acquire.  Throughout the general ledger, the fourth or fifth and subsequent digits have been left for local governments to use in establishing more detailed breakdowns where needed.

1.2.30 Second, the general ledger has been designed to permit logical summarization of the detailed accounts at various levels. The table which follows on the next few pages illustrates in detail the structure of the general ledger. In general, the outline is as follows:

1.2.40 Third, the comprehensiveness of the general ledger combined with the uniform summarization outlined above is designed to make the preparation balance sheets a simple matter of extracting the balances at the same level for all the funds of a government. The headings on the chart which begins on the next page identify which digits to sort or summarize by for reporting purposes. The presentation of the balance sheet is structured in similar manner as the general ledger accounts.

Assets

110-152 Current Assets

Include those assets which will be used up or converted into cash within the next operating cycle (e.g., twelve months).

111. Cash and Cash Equivalents

Currency, coins, negotiable money orders, petty cash and checks, and balances on deposit with financial institutions.  Cash equivalents are short-term highly liquid investments including Treasury bills, commercial paper, and money market funds.

115. Cash with fiscal agents/trustees

Include moneys set aside within the treasury to pay matured bonds and interest, deposits with fiscal agents, such as commercial banks, for the payment of matured bonds and interest, moneys held by government outside the main treasury on behalf of private individuals or organizations, or until ultimate disposition is determined, deposits with fiduciaries including banks, brokers and insurance companies made on behalf of private individuals or organizations.  Include both cash and investments.

118. Investments

Include all securities and other assets acquired for the purpose of obtaining income or profit.  Investments should be reported at fair value.  Investments with original maturities of three months or less may be considered cash equivalents and accounted for in the G.L. account 111.Do not include investments restricted for specific purpose in proprietary funds.  Purchased interest should be posted to the revenue account 3619000 (G.L. account 292.10).

121. Taxes receivable

121.10 Taxes Receivable – Current

Include the uncollected portion of property tax which a government has levied and for which the due date has not yet passed.  Also include any amounts of other uncollected taxes (see BARS 310 series) that are measurable and available.  Do not include interfund receivables (see account 131).

121.30 Taxes Receivable – Delinquent

Include taxes remaining unpaid on and after the date on which interest is assessed or a penalty for nonpayment attached.  This segregation from current taxes is required only for the government which is the tax collection agent.

121.80 Interest and Penalties Receivable – Taxes

The uncollected portion of interest and penalties receivable on taxes.

121.90 Allowance for Uncollectible Taxes (Credit)

A valuation account used to indicate that portion of taxes and related interest and penalties which it is estimated will never be collected.

122. Accounts Receivable

122.10 Accounts Receivable

Amounts due from customers on open account for goods and services provided.  Significant receivable balances not expected to be collected within one year of the date of financial statements should be disclosed in the notes.

122.70 Unbilled Accounts Receivable

Amounts earned by the government for goods or services rendered for which billings have not been prepared at the end of the reporting period.

122.90 Allowance for Uncollectible Receivable (Credit)

A valuation account used to indicate that portion of customer accounts which it is estimated will never be collected and will eventually be written off.

123. Special Assessments Receivable

123.10 Special Assessments Receivable – Current

Include the uncollected portion of special assessments which a government has levied and which are due within 60 days (for governmental funds).  Exclude interfund assessments which should be reported in account 131.  Also exclude any special assessments accounted for in a proprietary fund, which should be reported in account 151.

123.30 Special Assessments Receivable – Delinquent

Include the uncollected portion of special assessments which are past due.  Exclude interfund assessments, which should be reported in account 131.  Also exclude any special assessments accounted for in a proprietary fund, which should be reported in account 151.

123.50 Interest Receivable on Special Assessments

Include the uncollected portion of interest receivable on special assessments in governmental funds.

123.70 Penalties Receivable on Special Assessments

Include the uncollected portion of penalties receivable on special assessments in governmental funds.

124. Interest Receivable

Interest earned on investments, notes, contracts and miscellaneous receivables.  Do not include interest on taxes or special assessments.

125. Notes/Contracts/Loans Receivable

125.10 Notes/Contracts/Loans Receivable

Include current amounts due from private individuals or organizations evidenced by a written promise to pay.

125.90 Allowance for Uncollectible Notes/Contracts/Loans (Credit)

126. Other Current Receivables

126.10 Other Current Receivables

Include amounts of impact or developers’ fees or reimbursable charges for services receivable from private developers, rents and other receivables.

126.90 Allowance for Uncollectible Receivable (Credit)

131. Due from Other Funds

A receivable for goods issued, work performed or services rendered to or for the benefit of another fund of the same government.  Also use this account for subsidies and other transfers between funds that have been authorized but not yet paid.  The owing fund should have an equal amount recorded under account 225.  Include receivables between a primary government and blended component units.

132. Interfund Loans Receivable

Include the uncollected amounts of interfund loans.  See Loans.

134. Due from Other Government(s)

Include amounts due to the reporting government from another government.  These amounts may represent measurable and available intergovernmental grants, entitlements, or shared revenues; grants or taxes collected for the reporting government by an intermediary collecting government; loans; and charges for services rendered by the reporting unit for another government.  Receivables for services that are not governmental in nature, such as insurance, utilities, rents, repairs, and supplies, should not be included here.  Use account 122.

135. Due from Component Unit(s)

Amounts due to the reporting entity from discretely presented component unit(s).  The receivables from blended component unit(s) are presented in 131.  Some transactions and balances previously recorded in 131 or 134 may need to be reclassified for presentation in the reporting entity (primary government) financial statements.  The owing component unit(s) should have an equal amount recorded in 228.  For details see GAAP Reporting Requirements.

136. Due from Primary Government

Include amounts due to the discretely presented component unit(s) from the primary government.  The owing reporting entity (primary government) should have an equal amount recorded in 226.  For details see GAAP Reporting Requirements.

141. Inventories

Include material and supplies on hand for future consumption.  Also, include goods held for resale rather than used in operations and raw materials used in manufacturing goods for sale.

143. Prepaid Items

Include payments for services and benefits not yet received (e.g., prepaid rent, unexpired insurance premiums, etc.).

145. Other Current Assets

150. Restricted Assets

Restricted assets are those proprietary fund monetary assets which have their use limited by statute, bond covenant, or other contractual or trust relationship (e.g., money set aside to pay principal and interest on outstanding debt, customer deposits, retainage, assessments, etc.).  For reporting purposes, restricted assets must be shown in account 150, although they may be accounted for during the year in separate funds, using current asset accounts (111, 118, 123, etc.).  Separate funds are not required for restricted assets, even though bond covenants may stipulate a bond reserve fund, construction fund, etc.  The bond covenant use of the term fund is not the same as the use in governmental accounting.  For bond covenants, fund means only a segregation or separate account, not a self-balancing set of accounts.

Most restricted assets are offset by corresponding current liabilities (accounts 241-245, Current Payable from Restricted Assets), noncurrent liabilities (accounts 246-248, Noncurrent Payable from Restricted Assets), or by a restriction of net position (account 284.20).

151. Current Assets Restricted for ____________

152. Current Assets Restricted for Landfill Closure and Postclosure Care Costs

(RCW 70.95.215)

156-193 Noncurrent Assets

156. Noncurrent Assets Restricted for _____________

157. Noncurrent Assets Restricted for Landfill Closure and Postclosure Care Costs (RCW 70.95.215)

161. Special Assessments Receivable

Include the uncollected portion of special assessments not due for 60 days (governmental funds) or one year (proprietary funds).  Exclude interfund assessments which should be reported in account 165.  When accounting for special assessments in proprietary funds, make certain that all collections are recorded as restricted assets.  The current portion and related interest and penalties should be recorded in account 123 (for governmental funds) or account 151 (for proprietary funds).

163. Notes/Contracts/Loans Receivable

Noncurrent amounts due from private individuals or organizations evidenced by a written promise to pay.  The current portion should be recorded in account 125.

165. Advances to Other Funds

The uncollected amounts of long-term interfund loans; that is, loans which do not meet the criteria of temporary defined in the Loans.  Also include the amount of unearned assessments owed by other funds of the same government.

167. Investment in Joint Ventures

A joint venture is a legal entity or other organization that results from a contractual arrangement and that is owned, operated, or governed by two or more participants as a separate and specific activity subject to joint control, in which the participants retain (a) an ongoing financial interest, or (b) an ongoing financial responsibility.  The government’s investment should be accounted for using the equity method, if the investment is material.

170-191 Capital Assets

Those assets acquired by the government for its own use through purchase, lease, self-construction, donation, or gift, with a life expectancy of more than one year.  In addition to land, buildings and equipment, capital assets also include land and air rights, depletable resources such as minerals or timber, improvements made to leased property and the cost of partly-completed capital projects.

171. Land

171.90 Accumulated Depletion (Credit)

172‑173. Buildings and Structures

173.90 Accumulated Depreciation (Credit)

175. Leasehold Improvements

175.90 Accumulated Amortization (Credit)

176‑179. Other Improvements

179.90 Accumulated Depreciation (Credit)

181‑188. Machinery and Equipment

188.90 Accumulated Depreciation (Credit)

189. Construction in Progress

191. Intangible Assets

Include assets with no physical substance, such as patents, franchise fees, licenses, computer software, rights to use property, etc. with a useful life that exceeds one year.

191.90 Accumulated Amortization (Credit)

193. Other Noncurrent Assets

193.10 Investments

Include all securities and other assets acquired for the purpose of obtaining income or profit. Investments should be reported at fair value.

Do not include investments restricted for specific purpose in proprietary funds (see account 156).  Purchased interest should be debited to the revenue account 3619000 (G.L. account 292.10).

193.40 Property Held in Trust or for Future Use

Include nonmonetary property acquired by distraint, foreclosure or default, record at the amount of the tax lien.  Use the purchase price for land acquired for a future plant site.

193.50 Pension Asset

The difference between the total pension liability and fiduciary net position.

193.70 Capital Assets Held for Resale

Include capital assets which have been declared surplus but are still owned by the government until they can be sold, traded, or otherwise disposed.

193.80 Other Noncurrent Assets

198. Deferred Outflows of Resources

A consumption of net assets by the government that is applicable to a future reporting period.  This account should include transactions related to accumulated decrease in fair value of hedging derivatives, deferred amount on refunding [the unamortized difference between the net carrying amount of the debt and its reacquisition price (when the reacquisition price exceeds the net carrying amount – loss on refunding)], grants paid in advance (when grantor provides resources to grantee after all requirements have been met except the grantor stipulated time requirement), pension, and other items as defined by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.  The categories should be detailed in the financial statements.

Liabilities

211-23X    Current Liabilities

Include liabilities which are payable within next operating cycle (e.g., twelve months).

211. Warrants Payable

The amount of operating warrants issued and outstanding.  This account will be credited when warrants are issued and debited when warrants are redeemed or canceled.  Do not use this account to record the issuance of revenue warrants (see accounts 235 and 263).  Code cities using checks instead of warrants should not use this account.

213. Accounts/Vouchers Payable

213.10 Accounts Payable

Amounts not yet vouchered but owed on open account to private persons or organizations for goods and services furnished to a government (but not including amounts due to other funds or to other governments).

213.40 Vouchers Payable

Liabilities for goods and services evidenced by vouchers which have been pre-audited and approved for payment but not yet paid.

215. Claims and Judgments Payable

Amounts owed as compensation or payment for injury or damage.  Include unpaid losses not covered by an insurance contract or bond and amounts owed as the result of court decisions, such a condemnation awards for private property taken for public use.

217. Matured Long-Term Obligations Payable

Include the portion of all long-term debt which has become due.  For explanation of the specific categories below, see accounts 251, 252, 253 and 263.

217.10 G.O. Bonds Payable

217.20 Revenue Bonds Payable

217.30 Special Assessment Bonds Payable

217.40 Revenue Warrants Payable

217.50 Leases and Installment Purchases Payable

217.70 Notes Payable

217.90 Other

219. Matured Interest Payable

Include interest due on long-term debt.  For interest accrued between due dates, use account 231.10.

221. Annuities Payable

Include pension benefits due and payable to retired employees in a public employee retirement system.

223. Contracts Payable

223.10 Construction Contracts Payable

Include amounts of progress payments due for construction of buildings and other improvements.  If the amounts earned by contractors at the end of the fiscal period are material, they should be estimated and accrued if a progress billing is not available.

223.40 Retainage Payable

Include amounts due on construction contracts, representing a percentage of the progress billings.  These amounts are not paid until final inspection, the lapse of a specified time period, or both.  (RCW 50.24.130 and Chapter 60.28 RCW)  Include amounts deposited to escrow accounts (see account 115) as well as amounts held in the municipal treasury.

223.70 Interest on Contracts Payable

Use this account to accumulate interest on retainage when requested by the contractor (RCW 60.28.010).

223.90 Other Contracts Payable

225. Due to Other Funds

A payable for goods issued, work performed or services rendered from or by another fund of the same government.  Also use this account for subsidies and other transfers between funds that have been authorized but not yet paid.  The recipient fund should have an equal amount recorded under account 131.  Include payables between a primary government and blended component units.

226. Due to Component Unit(s)

Include amounts due to discretely presented component unit(s) from the primary government.  The payables to blended component unit(s) are presented in 225.  Some transactions and balances previously recorded in 225 and 229 may need to be reclassified for the presentation in the reporting entity (primary government) financial statements.  The recipient component unit(s) should have an equal amount recorded in 136.

227. Interfund Loans Payable

The amounts of interfund loans not yet repaid.  See Loans  for further definition.

228. Due to Primary Government

Amounts due to the primary government from discretely presented component unit(s).  The payables of blended component unit(s) are presented in 225.  An equal amount should be recorded in 135.  For details, see GAAP Reporting Requirements.

229. Due to Other Government(s)

Current amounts due to other governments.  These amounts may represent intergovernmental grants or entitlements; loans; and charges for services rendered by another government. Payables for services that are not governmental in nature, such as insurance, utilities, rents, repairs, and supplies, should not be included here.  Use account 213 or 231.

231. Other Accrued Liabilities

These are amounts of expenses/expenditures that have been incurred by the end of the fiscal period but will become payable at a future date.  Do not include accruals for claims and judgments, annuities, or construction contracts in this account.  See accounts 215, 221, and 223.

231.10 Interest Payable

Interest earned by creditors, including bondholders, since the last payment or coupon date.

231.20 Arbitrage Rebate Tax Payable

The interest earnings accrued at the end of the 5th year and due and payable to the U.S. Treasury.  See Arbitrage Rebates.

231.30 Accrued Wages

Wages earned by employees since the last payroll.  Include the current portion of the unpaid liability for employee absences (vacation and other accruable leave).  Use account 259 to record the long-term liability for compensated absences.

231.50 Accrued Employee Benefits

Estimated benefits associated with accrued wages, account 231.30.  Include payroll taxes.

231.70 Accrued Taxes

Estimated taxes that are not directly associated with other specific liability accounts, such as B&O taxes or excise taxes.  Do not include payroll taxes (see account 231.50).

231.90 Other

235. Current Portion of Long-Term Obligations

The unmatured portion of all long-term debt which will become due within one year (proprietary funds) but which is not yet due and which will require current assets to redeem (see account 240 for the current portion of long-term debt payable from restricted assets).  Do not include any portion of refunded debt.  Special rules apply to certain types of intermediate-length financing (see accounts 239.60 and 263.60).  For explanations of the other specific types of debt, see accounts 251, 252, 253 and 263.

235.10 G.O. Bonds Payable

235.20 Revenue Bonds Payable

235.30 Special Assessment Bonds Payable

235.40 Revenue Warrants Payable

235.50 Leases and Installment Purchases Payable

235.70 Notes Payable

235.90 Other

237. Custodial Accounts

A liability account for the money held by a government in a trustee capacity or as a custodian for individuals, private organizations, other governments, or other funds.  Include such items as sales and leasehold taxes collected for the state, prisoners’ cash, court trusts, contractors’ bonds (bid deposits), etc.  County treasurers should use this account to offset the assets held in custodial funds for special purpose districts.  This account should be used only in fiduciary funds.

239. Other Current Liabilities

239.10 Customer Deposits (Nonproprietary)

Include liability for deposits made by customers as a prerequisite to receiving services.  In proprietary funds use account 245.10 instead.

239.60 Anticipation Warrants/Notes

These are short-term financing instruments (Chapter 39.50 RCW).  Include the entire principal of those notes and warrants unless the instruments were authorized in anticipation of a bond issue (see account 263.60).  This debt should be treated as fund debt, even in governmental funds.

239.70 Registered Warrants

239.90 Other

241-245 Current Payable from Restricted Assets

These accounts are used only in proprietary funds.  Include the amounts of current liabilities and customer deposits for which the assets have been set aside as restricted in accounts 151-155.  Do not include matured bonds or progress payments due to contractors; instead, the related assets should be treated as current and not restricted.  For explanation of the specific types of debt, see accounts 239.60, 251, 252, 253, and 263.

241. Debt Principal Payable

242. Debt Interest Payable

245. Deposits and Other Payables

246-267 Noncurrent Liabilities

246-248 Noncurrent Payable from Restricted Assets

These accounts are used only in proprietary funds.  Include the amounts of current liabilities and customer deposits for which the assets have been set aside as restricted in accounts 156-158.  Do not include matured bonds or progress payments due to contractors; instead, the related assets should be treated as current and not restricted.  For explanation of the specific types of debt, see accounts 239.60, 251, 252, 253 and 263.

246. Debt Principal Payable

246.10 Revenue Bonds Payable

246.20 Other Bonds Payable

246.40 Warrants/Notes Payable

247. Debt Interest Payable

248. Deposits and Other Payables

248.10 Deposits Payable

248.90 Other

251. General Obligation Bonds Payable

251.10 G.O. Bonds at Face Value (for Capital Purposes)

The face value of all noncurrent bonds used for capital acquisitions and/or improvements for which the government has pledged its full faith and credit.

251.11 No Vote Required

251.12 Vote Required

251.15 Advance Refunding – Defeasance Method

251.16 Advance Refunding – Crossover Method

251.21 Vote Required for Utility Purposes (Cities and Towns)

251.22 Vote Required for Open Space, Parks and Capital Facilities (Cities and Towns)

251.31 No Vote Required for Metropolitan Municipal Corporation (County)

251.32 Vote Required for Metropolitan Municipal Corporation (County)

251.41 No Vote Required for Construction (Ports)

251.42 No Vote Required for Airport Improvement (Ports)

251.43 Vote Required for Airport Improvement (Ports)251.44 Vote Required for Foreign Trade Zones (Ports)

251.50 G.O. Bonds at Face Value (for M and O Purposes)

The face value of all noncurrent bonds used for maintenance and operations (M and O) for which the government has pledged its full faith and credit.

251.51 No Vote Required

251.52 Vote Required

251.55 Advance Refunding – Defeasance Method

251.56 Advance Refunding – Crossover Method

251.60 Unamortized Premium on G.O. Bonds

The unamortized portion of the excess of G.O. bond proceeds over their face value (excluding accrued interest and issuance cost).

251.70 Unamortized Discount on G.O. Bonds (Debit)

The unamortized portion of the excess of the face value of G.O. bonds over the amount received from their sale (excluding accrued interest and issuance cost).

251.90 Advance Refunded G.O. Bond Issues

The amount of any refunded bonds included in this account should not be reported in the financial statements.  For further discussion, see BARS Manual 3.4.14, Refunding Debt.

252. Revenue Bonds Payable

252.10 Revenue Bonds at Face Value (for Capital Purposes)

The face value of all revenue bonds used for capital acquisitions and improvements not due within one year.

252.11 No Vote Required

252.12 Vote Required

252.15 Advance Refunding ‑ Defeasance Method

252.16 Advance Refunding ‑ Crossover Method

252.20 Unamortized Premium

The unamortized portion of the excess of revenue bond proceeds over their face value (excluding accrued interest and issuance cost).

252.30 Unamortized Discount (Debit)

The unamortized portion of the excess of the face value of revenue bonds over the amount received from their sale (excluding accrued interest and issuance cost).

252.40 Revenue Bonds at Face Value (for M and O Purposes)

The face value of all revenue bonds used for maintenance and operations (M and O) and not due within one year.

252.41 No Vote Required

252.42 Vote Required

252.45 Advance Refunding – Defeasance Method

252.46 Advance Refunding – Crossover Method

252.90 Advance Refunded Revenue Bond Issues

The amount of any refunded bonds included in this account should not be reported in the financial statements.  For further discussion, see BARS Manual 3.4.14, Refunding Debt.

253. Special Assessment Bonds Payable

253.10 Special Assessment Bonds at Face Value

The face value of bonds issued for public improvements to be repaid (wholly or in part) from assessments levied against benefited properties.  Bonds expected to be financed from special assessments should be recorded here even if the full faith and credit of the municipality is pledged.

253.11 LID Bonds

253.12 ULID Bonds

253.13 RID Bonds

253.14 Other Special Improvement Bonds

253.15 CRID Bonds

253.16 Advance Refunding – Defeasance Method

253.17 Advance Refunding – Crossover Method

253.20 Unamortized Premium

The unamortized portion of the excess of special assessment bond proceeds over their face value (excluding accrued interest and issuance cost).

253.30 Unamortized Discount (Debit)

The unamortized portion of the excess of the face value of special assessment bonds over the amount received from their sale (excluding accrued interest and issuance cost).

253.43 LID Warrants with Commitments

253.63 LID Notes Payable with Commitments

253.80 Advance Refunded Special Assessment Bond Issues

The amount of any refunded bonds included in this account should not be reported in the financial statements.  For further discussion, see BARS Manual 3.4.14, Refunding Debt.

253.90 Miscellaneous Special Assessment Bonds

253.98 Miscellaneous Special Assessment Debt with Commitment

255. Advances from Other Funds

The amounts of long-term interfund loans not yet repaid.  Also include the amount of deferred assessments owed by a fund to other funds of the same government.

257. Unearned Revenue

Amounts recognized as receivables, including amounts due from other governments, which cannot be classified as revenues.  Under the modified accrual basis of accounting, such amounts are measurable but not available.  See the discussion of revenue accrual in Accrual of Revenues in Governmental Funds.  Also include amounts collected that will not become revenues during the next fiscal year.  For example, rental payment received for the last year of a lease running for several more years.

259. Compensated Absences

This account is used to record the noncurrent liability for employee absences.  Such compensation should be recorded for all accrued vacation and for that portion of other leave, such as sick leave, for which the employee would be paid on termination.  Use account 231.30 to record the current portion of these kinds of leave.

259.12 Compensated Absences

263. Other Noncurrent Liabilities

263.12 Claims and Judgments Payable

The noncurrent portion of amounts owed as compensation or payment for injury or damages.

263.22 Liability for Landfill Closure and Postclosure Care Costs

The estimated and accrued costs related to the closure of landfills in accordance with the Department of Ecology standards.  See Solid Waste Utilities: Closure and Postclosure Cost Accounting.

263.30 Utility Operating Reserves

Amounts expensed by a proprietary fund and irrevocably set aside for pension, accident and death benefits, employee health and welfare, etc., but not included in restricted assets.  Utilities may also use this account during the fiscal year for amounts expensed to meet the probable liability, not covered by insurance, for losses through accidents, fire, flood, or other hazards, and for losses from injury and damage claims.  For reporting purposes, amounts that remain in this account at year-end which represent net self-insurance reserves must be credited against the related risk expense accounts, so that operating statements include as expenses only the actual judgments awarded and/or losses sustained.

263.40 Revenue Warrants Payable

The noncurrent portion of warrants issued with a set term for redemption (also known as time warrants).  In most cases, they are backed by the earnings of a specific fund rather than the full faith and credit of the issuing government.  Any premium or discount should be accounted for separately from the face value, using subaccounts of this account.

263.50 Leases and Installment Purchases Payable

Include the noncurrent portion of leases and lease/purchases.  An explanation of capital leases and the required accounting for them is in Leases.

263.51 Leases and Installment Purchases Payable (General Obligation)

263.52 Leases and Installment Purchases Payable (No General Obligation)

263.60 Notes Payable

Include the noncurrent portion of promissory notes issued by a local government.

Include the entire unpaid principal of intermediate length financing instruments, such as anticipation notes and warrants (Chapter 39.50 RCW) authorized in anticipation of a bond issue, even though it may come due within 12 months.

Other anticipation notes or warrants should be classified as current debt even though payment may be delayed beyond 12 months (see account 239.60).

263.61 Notes Payable (General Obligation)

263.62 Notes Payable (No General Obligation)

263.70 Arbitrage Rebate Tax Payable

263.72 Arbitrage Rebate Tax Payable

The interest earnings accrued in years 1-4 that will be due to the U.S.  Treasury at the end of the 5th year.  Refer to discussion in Arbitrage Rebates.

263.80 Due to Other Governments

Include the noncurrent portion of intergovernmental loans.

263.81 Loans and Other Obligations to Federal or out-of-State Governments (General Obligation)

263.82 Loans and Other Obligations to Federal or out-of-State Governments (No General Obligation)

263.83 Loans and Other Obligations to WA State (except LOCAL and PWTFL) (General Obligation)

263.84 Loans and Other Obligations to WA State (except LOCAL and PWTFL) (No General Obligation)

263.85 Loans and Other Obligations to Other WA Local Governments (General Obligation)

263.86 Loans and Other Obligations to Other WA Local Governments (No General Obligation)

263.87 Public Work Trust Fund Loans (General Obligation)

263.88 Public Work Trust Fund Loans (No General Obligation)

263.90 Miscellaneous Noncurrent Liabilities

263.91 Miscellaneous Debt (General Obligation)

263.92 Miscellaneous Debt (No General Obligation)

263.93 Environmental Liabilities

263.94 Line of Credit with a General Obligation Pledge

263.95 Line of Credit (No General Obligation)

263.96 LOCAL Program (General Obligation)

263.98 Miscellaneous Liabilities (General Obligation)

263.99 Miscellaneous Liabilities (No General Obligation)

264.30 Pension Liabilities (Net)

The cumulative difference between annual pension cost and the employer contribution to the pension plan.

264.40 OPEB Liabilities

267. Other Credits

This account is used in proprietary funds to account for gains that will be amortized over succeeding fiscal periods.  Use the separate accounts provided for items such as unamortized debt premium (accounts 251.20, 252.20 and 253.20), customer advances to be refunded (account 245) and amounts held pending disposition (account 237).

271 Deferred Inflows of Resources

An acquisition of net assets by the government that is applicable to future reporting period.  This account should include transactions related to accumulated increase in fair value of hedging derivatives, deferred service concession arrangement receipts, deferred property tax, advance payments of property tax, special assessments, deferred amount on refunding [the unamortized difference between the net carrying amount of the debt and its reacquisition price (when the net carrying amount exceeds the reacquisition price – gain on refunding)], grants received in advance(when grantee receives grantor resources after all grantor requirements have been met except the grantor stipulated time requirement), pension, and other items as defined by the Governmental Accounting Standards Board.  The categories should be detailed in the financial statements.

281-282 Fund Balance
286-288

These accounts are used to indicate the difference between the assets and liabilities reported in governmental funds.

281. Nonspendable Fund Balance

Indicates the portion of fund balance is inherently nonspendable in current period (e.g., prepaid items, inventories, long-term portion of loans receivable, nonfinancial resources held for resale, etc.).

282. Restricted Fund Balance

Indicates the portion of fund balance that is subject to externally enforceable legal restrictions (imposed by creditors, grantors, donors, other governments, etc.).  The restrictions may be also imposed by law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation.

286. Committed Fund Balance

Indicates the portion of fund balance that represents resources whose use is constrained by limitations that the government imposes upon itself at the highest level of decision making (normally the governing body) and that remain binding unless removed in the same manner.

287. Assigned Fund Balance

Indicates the portion of fund balance that reflects a government’s intended use of resources.

288. Unassigned Fund Balance

Indicates net resources in excess of nonspendable, restricted, committed, and assigned fund balance.

283-285 Net Position

283.10 Held in Trust for Pension Benefits

The difference between the assets and liabilities of pension plans reported by the employer or sponsor government in a pension (and other employee benefit) trust fund.

283.20 Held in Trust for Pool Participants

The difference between the assets and liabilities of external investment pools reported by the sponsor government in an investment trust fund.

283.90 Held in Trust for Other Purposes

The difference between the assets and liabilities of fiduciary funds, other than pension (and other employee benefit) trust funds or investment trust funds.

284.10 Net Investment in Capital Assets

Capital assets net of accumulated depreciation, reduced by the outstanding balances of borrowings attributable to the acquisition, construction, or improvement of those assets.  Deferred outflows and inflows of resources attributable to the acquisition, construction, or improvement of those assets or related debt also should be included.  If there are significant unspent related debt proceeds or deferred inflows of resources at the end of the reporting period, the portion of the debt or deferred inflows of resources attributable to the unspent amount should not be included.

284.20 Restricted for ___________

The component of net position that consists of restricted assets reduced by liabilities and deferred inflows of resources related to those assets.

284.21 Restricted for ________, Permanent Restriction.  Restricted component of net position that may never be spent (e.g., endowments).

284.22 Restricted for ________, Temporary Restriction.  Restricted component of net position that may be spent at some time, either in the present or future.

285. Unrestricted

The net amount of the assets, deferred outflows of resources, liabilities, and deferred inflows of resources that are not included in the determination of net investment in capital assets or the restricted component of net position.

This section was last edited by SAO on 12/16/22
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Introduction

2 Budgeting

2.4 Budget Compliance

2.4.1 Introduction

2.4.1.10 A budget is a legal document that forecasts the financial resources of a government and authorizes the spending of those resources for a fiscal period. At a minimum, local governments’ budget must meet the requirements of Washington state law and the State Auditor’s Office. The SAO does not prescribe how to budget or what a budget should look like. The adopted budget should be of sufficient detail to be meaningful and meet the intention of the law. The SAO considers budgets showing revenues and expenditures at the legal fund level to be the minimum acceptable level of detail.

2.4.1.20 Budgeting is more than just an activity to satisfy state law. It is a sophisticated process of strategic planning, communication and policy development resulting in a detailed plan of operations for allocating and monitoring the use of limited resources among various competing demands. Teaching how to budget is outside the scope of the BARS. However, there are many educational resources available to local governments, such as the Municipal Research and Services Center  (mrsc.org) and the Government Finance Officers Association (gfoa.org).

2.4.1.30 Glossary of budgetary terms:

Annual/biennial appropriated budget – A fixed budget adopted for the government’s fiscal period. The appropriated budget was traditionally used to determine a government’s property tax levy, and a ceiling on expenditures was made absolute so that the expenditures of a government unit would not exceed its revenues. This budget was also historically a balanced budget, estimated revenues equaling appropriations. The appropriated budget is still used to set tax levies and some budget statutes still require balanced budgets, but it is more generally used to authorize a specific amount of expenditures regardless of whether estimated resources meet or exceed that amount. Appropriated budgets are required by statute in cities (Chapter 35.32A RCW, Chapter 35.33 RCW and Chapter 35A.33 RCW), counties (Chapter 36.40 RCW), and most other local governments in Washington State. These budgets are also called legal budgets, adopted budgets, or formal budgets. The appropriated budgets should be adopted by ordinance or resolution.

Appropriation – The legal spending level authorized by a budget ordinance or resolution. Spending should not exceed this level without prior approval of the governing body.

Capital improvement budget Consists of two elements: the annual/biennial portion of capital projects and annual/biennial appropriations for the purchase, construction or replacement of major fixed assets in the current fiscal period.

Comprehensive budget – A government-wide budget that includes all resources the government expects and everything it intends to spend or encumber during a fiscal period. The comprehensive budget contains annual/biennial appropriated budgets, the annual/biennial portion of continuing appropriations such as the capital improvement projects, debt amortization schedules, and grant projects, flexible budgets and all non-budgeted funds.

Continuing appropriation – A fixed budget which authorizes expenditures for a fiscal period that differs from the government’s fiscal year, such as capital projects, debt issues, grant awards, and other service projects. These expenditures require an ordinance or resolution to authorize the project, establish the assessment roll, adopt the debt amortization schedule, or accept the grant award. Such ordinances or resolutions set an absolute maximum or ceiling on the expenditures, but the time period for incurring expenditures does not coincide with the government’s fiscal year; it may even cover several years. The major difference between annual/biennial appropriated budgets and continuing appropriations is that the latter do not lapse at fiscal period end; this implies that no legislative action is required to amend the annual/biennial portion of a continuing appropriation, unless the total authorized expenditures would exceed the entire appropriation.

Encumbrances Commitments related to unperformed (executory) contracts for goods or services should be utilized to the extent necessary to assure effective budgetary control and to facilitate cash planning. Encumbrances outstanding at year end represent the estimated amount of expenditures ultimately to result if unperformed contracts in process are completed; they do not constitute expenditures or liabilities.

Final amended budget – The original budget adjusted by all reserves, transfers, allocations, supplemental appropriations, and other legally authorized legislative and executive changes applicable to the fiscal year, whenever signed into law or otherwise legally authorized.

Fixed budget – Those budgets which set an absolute maximum or ceiling on the expenditures of a particular fund, department, or other specific category. A fixed budget can be either an annual/biennial appropriated budget or a continuing appropriation. Fixed budgets must be adopted by ordinance or resolution, either for the government’s fiscal period or at the outset of a service project, debt issue, grant award, or capital project.

Flexible budgets – Are usually regarded as managerial tools, which do not set a ceiling on expenses or expenditures but establish a plan for them at various levels of service. They are especially appropriate for the day-to-day operations of a public utility where it is essential to plan fluctuations in the demand for services and where revenues will automatically increase with demand, so that a balanced budget does not depend on establishing a ceiling for expenses.

Operating budget – Presents the estimated expenditures and available resources necessary to provide the services for which the government was created. An operating budget will contain flexible budgets and fixed budgets; the fixed budgets will include annual/biennial appropriations for services and the annual/biennial portion of continuing appropriations for debt service and for service projects.

Original budget – The first complete appropriated budget. The original budget may be adjusted by reserves, transfers, allocations, supplemental appropriations, and other legally authorized legislative and executive changes before the beginning of the fiscal year. The original budget should also include actual appropriation amounts automatically carried over from prior years by law.

Working capital budget – Combines flexible and fixed budget elements in one document for enterprise and internal service funds. Current operations are flexibly budgeted based on the estimated level of services to be provided and long-range sources and uses of assets are controlled by annual/biennial appropriations and continuing appropriations.

This section was last edited by SAO on 12/16/22
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Fund Types and Accounting Principles

3 Accounting

3.1 Accounting Principles and Internal Control

3.1.7 Fund Types and Accounting Principles

Quick Links
3.1.7.20 Accounting and reporting capabilitites
3.1.7.30 Fund accounting systems
3.1.7.40 Basis of accounting
3.1.7.50 Types of funds
Governmental funds
Code 000 - General (Current Expense) Fund 
Code 100 - Special Revenue Funds
Code 200 - Debt Service Funds
Code 300 - Capital Projects Funds
Code 700 - Permanent Funds
Proprietary funds
Code 400 - Enterprise Funds
Code 500 - Internal Service Funds
Fiduciary funds
Overview
Code 600 - Fiduciary Funds
Code 600-609 - Investment Trust Funds
Code 610-619 - Pension (and Other Employee Benefit) Trust Fund
Code 620-629 - Private-Purpose Trust Funds
Code 630-698 - Custodial Funds
Code 699 - External Investment Pool Fund
3.1.7.60 Number of funds
3.1.7.70 Budgeting, budgetary control and budgetary reporting
3.1.7.80 Transfer, revenue and expenditure account classifications
3.1.7.80 Common terminology and classification
3.1.7.90 Interim and annual financial reports

3.1.7.10 The following principles are basic rules of accounting and financial reporting for cash based cities, counties and special purpose districts.

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3.1.7.20 Accounting and reporting capabilities

A governmental accounting system must make it possible to determine and demonstrate compliance with finance related legal and contractual provisions.

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3.1.7.30 Fund accounting systems

A governmental accounting system should be organized and operated on a fund basis. A fund is defined 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.

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3.1.7.40 Basis of accounting

Basis of accounting refers to when revenues and expenditures are recognized and reported in the financial statements.

Revenues are recognized only when cash is received and expenditures are recognized when chargeable against the report year’s budget appropriations as required by state law. This generally results in revenues being recognized when delivered to the government or government’s agent and expenditures being recognized when paid. Warrants and checks are considered paid when issued. An exception to expenditure recognition would be during any open period after the close of the fiscal year when expenditures can be charged against the previous period for claims incurred in the previous period. Open periods are required by statute for cities (RCW 35.33.151 and RCW 35A.33.150) and allowed for counties (RCW 36.40.200). Special purpose districts which use the county or a city as their treasurer may use the same open-period as their treasurer. If a district acts as its own treasurer, no open period is allowed by statute.

Revenues and expenditures should be reported at gross amounts by account and not netted against each other.

Revenues and expenditures should be recognized for all receipts and payments of a government’s resources, including those where the cash is handled by an agent (such as a bank, underwriter, etc.) on behalf of the government rather than handled directly by the local government. For example, debt proceeds wired directly to an escrow account, payments by the State Treasurer’s Office to vendors for items purchased with LOCAL resources, etc.

Interest earned on investments may be recognized at cost, amortized cost or fair value in accordance with the government’s disclosed accounting policy.

In addition, revenue and expenditures should also be recognized when the government agrees to forgo receiving earned revenue in exchange for reduction of expenses (offsetting agreement) or receipt of an asset (e.g., acquiring an asset in exchange for reduced permit fees, etc.). The government should also recognize transactions in which cash may have been exchanged by third parties on behalf of the government (e.g., bond issuances and bond retirement transactions, loan advances deposited and held by a trustee). In such cases, the transactions are still reportable since the government experienced a transaction of economic or legal substance that would have resulted in cash inflows and outflows into the government’s accounts if the agreement was not in place or third party had not handled the transaction on behalf of the government. The transaction should be recorded as if the cash was received and expended in order to reflect the legal transaction.

This basis results in no reported assets other than cash and investments and no reported liabilities. For example, purchases of capital assets are expensed during the year of acquisition without any capitalization of capital assets or allocation of depreciation expense. However, please be aware that certain liabilities should be reported on Schedule 09 and in the notes in financial statements.

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3.1.7.50 Types of funds

In fund financial statements, governments should report governmental, proprietary, and fiduciary funds to the extent that they have activities that meet the criteria for using these funds.

Presented below is a system to classify all funds used by local government and the assignment of code numbers to identify each type of fund. A three digit code is used: the first digit identifies the fund type and the next two digits will be assigned by the governmental unit to identify each specific fund.

Since counties account for special purpose districts in their accounting systems as fiduciary funds, they often provide the districts with reports showing assigned fund codes 630-699. These codes refer to the fund from the county perspective. A district has to “reassign” the county code to the code appropriate to the fund type it is reporting (e.g., if the district’s general fund is coded in the county records as 663, the district in its annual report has to code this fund as 001).

For reporting purposes local governments are required to follow the described below fund structure. However, the local governments may create other funds for accounting or managerial purposes. When preparing external financial reports, those accounting or managerial funds should be rolled to appropriate fund types (e.g., there should be only one general fund or if an entity accounts separately for operating, capital or/and debt activities of its proprietary function, those activities should be rolled up into the appropriate enterprise fund, etc.)

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Governmental funds

Code 000 - General (Current Expense) Fund – should be used to account for and report all financial resources not accounted for and reported in another fund. For reporting purposes the local government can have only one general fund.

Although a local government has to report only one general fund in its external financial reports, the government can have multiple general subfunds for its internal managerial purposes. These managerial subfunds have to be combined into one general fund for external financial reporting.

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Code 100 - Special Revenue Funds – should be used to account for and report the proceeds of specific revenue sources that are restricted or committed to expenditure for specific purposes other than debt service or capital projects. Restricted revenues are resources externally restricted by creditors, grantors, contributors or laws or regulations of other governments or restricted by law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation. Committed revenues are resources with limitations imposed by the highest level of the government (e.g., board of commissioners, city council, etc.) through a formal action (resolution, ordinance) and where the limitations can be removed only by a similar action of the same governing body. Revenues do not include other financing sources (long-term debt, transfers, etc.).

The term proceeds of specific revenue sources establishes that one or more specific restricted or committed revenues should be foundation for a special revenue fund. They should be expected to continue to comprise a substantial portion of the inflows reported in the fund. It is recommended that at least 20 percent is a reasonable limit for restricted and committed revenues to create a foundation for a special revenue fund. Local governments need to consider factors such as past resource history, future resource expectations and unusual current year inflows such as debt proceeds in their analysis.

They may use the calculation below to determine whether an activity would qualify for reporting as a special revenue fund.

Other resources (investment earnings and transfers from other funds, etc.) also may be reported in the fund if these resources are restricted, committed, or assigned (intended) to the specific purpose of the fund.

Governments should discontinue reporting a special revenue fund, and instead report the fund’s remaining resources in the general fund, if the government no longer expects that a substantial portion of the inflows will derive from restricted or committed revenue sources.

All revenues have to be recognized in the special revenue fund. If the resources are initially received in another fund, such as the general fund, and subsequently remitted to a special revenue fund, they should not be recognized as revenue in the fund initially receiving them. They should be recognized as revenue in the special revenue fund from which they will be expended.

Special revenue funds should not be used to account for resources held in trust for individuals, private organizations, or other governments.

The state statutes contain many requirements for special funds to account for different activities. The legally required funds do not always meet standards for external reporting. So, while the local governments are required to follow their legal requirements, they will have to make some adjustment to their fund structure for external financial reporting.

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Code 200 - Debt Service Funds – should be used to account for and report financial resources that are restricted, committed, or assigned (intended) to expenditure for principal and interest. Debt service funds should be used to report resources if legally mandated. Financial resources that are being accumulated for principal and interest maturing in future years also should be reported in debt service funds. The debt service transactions for a special assessment for which the government is not obligated in any matter should be reported in a custodial fund. Also, if the government is authorized, or required to establish and maintain a special assessment bond reserve, guaranty, or sinking fund, it is required to use a debt service fund for this purpose.

Note: Debt service funds should not be used in proprietary funds (400 and 500). Use enterprise funds (400) or internal service (500) for debt payments related to utilities and other business type activities.

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Code 300 - Capital Projects Funds – should be used to account for and report financial resources that are restricted, committed, or assigned (intended) for expenditure for capital outlays including the acquisition or construction of capital facilities or other capital assets. Capital outlays financed from general obligation bond proceeds should be accounted for through a capital projects fund. Capital project funds exclude those types of capital-related outflows financed by proprietary funds or for assets that will be held in trust for individuals, private organizations, or other governments (private-purpose trust funds).

Note: Capital project funds should not be used in proprietary funds (400 and 500). Use enterprise funds (400) or internal service (500) for capital payments related to utilities and other business type activities.

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Code 700 - Permanent Funds – should be used to account for and report resources that are restricted to the extent that only earnings, and not principal, may be used for purposes that support the reporting government’s programs – that is for the benefit of the government or its citizens (public-purpose).

Generally, only the principal amounts, interest revenue, and transfers to the appropriate operating fund for interest revenue use should be reported in this fund. Note: any expenses related to the allowable use of the interest earned must be reported in the appropriate operational fund.

Permanent funds do not include private-purpose trust funds which account for resources held in trust for individuals, private organizations, or other governments.

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Proprietary funds

Code 400 - Enterprise Funds – may be used to report any activity for which a fee is charged to external users for goods or services. Enterprise funds are required for any activity whose principal revenue sources meet any of the following criteria:

  • Debt backed solely by a pledge of the net revenues from fees and charges.
  • Legal requirement to recover cost. An enterprise fund is required to be used if the cost of providing services for an activity including capital costs (such as depreciation or debt service) must be legally recovered through fees or charges.
  • Policy decision to recover cost. It is necessary to use an enterprise fund if the government’s policy is to establish activity fees or charges designed to recover the cost, including capital costs (such as depreciation or debt service).

These criteria should be applied in the context of the activity’s principal revenue source.

The term activity generally refers to programs and services. This term is not synonymous with fund. As a practical consequence, if an activity reported as a separate fund meets any of the three criteria, it should be an enterprise fund. Also, if a “multiple activity” fund (e.g., general fund) includes a significant activity whose principal revenue source meets any of these three criteria, the activity should be reclassified as an enterprise fund.

The determination of an activity’s principal revenue source is a matter of professional judgement. A good indicator of the activity’s significance may be comparing pledged revenues or fees and charges to total revenue. For example, consider a county auditor’s office that charges fees to provide a payroll service to various taxing districts. Even if the fee is meant to cover the cost of the service, the county auditor function as a whole is primarily supported with tax dollars from the general fund. It would be allowable in this case to leave the activity all within general fund.

Finding an appropriate fund type requires a careful analysis since there is not always a clear choice. For example, building permit fees may be accounted for in the general fund or a special revenue fund in certain circumstances, such as when they are partially supported by taxes. However, if there is a pricing policy to recover the cost of issuing those individual building permits, they should be reported in an enterprise fund.

Separate funds are not required for bond redemption, construction, reserves, or deposits, for any utility. If separated, use 400 series number. Separate funds are not required even though bond covenants may stipulate a bond reserve fund, bond construction fund, etc. The bond covenant use of the term fund is not the same as the use in governmental accounting. For bond covenants, fund means only a segregation or separate account, not a self-balancing set of accounts.

Local governments may separate operating, capital projects and debt functions of enterprise funds. However, when reporting such proprietary activities, all those functions should be contained in one fund.

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Code 500 - Internal Service Funds – may be used to report any activity that provides goods or services to other funds, departments or agencies of the government, or to other governments, on a cost-reimbursement basis. Internal service funds should be used only if the reporting government is the predominant participant in the activity. Otherwise, the activity should be reported in an enterprise fund. Cash basis special purpose districts (such as a fire or water district) should not use the internal service fund category.

Note: When calculating the predominant participant, purchases from fiduciary funds would be considered part of the reporting government’s activity, but the BARS coding would still be to an external customer.

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Fiduciary funds

In general fiduciary funds are resources that are held by a government for the benefit of others.

To determine if an activity should be reported in a fiduciary custodial fund see BARS Manual 4.3.14, Determining Fiduciary Activities to be Reported in Custodial Funds.

If activity is determined to be fiduciary, the funds should be reviewed for trust arrangements and equivalents. The three criteria for determining if a fiduciary activity is a trust are:

  1. The government itself is not a beneficiary
  2. Dedicated to providing benefits in accordance with the benefit terms
  3. Legally protected from the government’s creditors

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Code 600 - Fiduciary Funds – should be used to account for assets held by a government in a trustee capacity or as a custodian for individuals, private organizations, other governmental units, and/or other funds. These include (a) investment trust funds, (b) pension (and other employee benefit) trust funds, (c) private-purpose trust funds, and (d) custodial funds.

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Code 600-609 - Investment Trust Funds – should be used to report fiduciary activities from the external portion of investment pools and individual investment accounts that are held in a trust or equivalent that meets the criteria above.

In addition to the trust criteria requirements above, all individual investment accounts are required to be reported in an Investment Trust Fund.

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Code 610-619 - Pension (and Other Employee Benefit) Trust Funds – should be used to report fiduciary activities for pension plans and OPEB plans that are administered through qualifying trusts. Qualifying trusts are those in which:

  • Contributions to the plan, and earnings on those contributions, are irrevocable. Pay-as-you-go plans do not qualify because they are “payments,” not contributions.
  • Plan assets are dedicated solely to providing benefits to plan members in accordance with the benefit terms. Different plans (for example a pension and an OPEB plan) cannot be commingled in the same trust. The assets must be partitioned for specific plans.
  • Plan assets are legally protected from creditors.

If you are acting as administrator for someone else’s pension/OPEB plans, the plans still must meet the criteria above to be reported in a trust fund.

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Code 620-629 - Private-Purpose Trust Funds – should be used to report all fiduciary activities that (a) are not required to be reported in pension (and other employee benefit) trust funds or investment trust funds, and (b) are held in a trust that meets the following criteria: the assets are (a) administered through a trust or equivalent that meets the criteria above.

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Code 630-698 - Custodial Funds – should be used to report all fiduciary activities that are not required to be reported in pension (and other employee benefit) trust funds, investment trust funds or private purpose trust funds. The external portion of the investment pools that are not held in trust that meets criteria listed above should be reported in a separate external investment pool fund column under the custodial funds classification.

Note: The custodial funds are required to be used by business-type activities and enterprise funds, except when the resources will normally be held for less than ninety (90) days.

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Code 699 - External Investment Pool Fund – The external portion of the investment pools that are not held in trust and meet criteria listed above. Although this is considered a custodial fund, it should be reported in a separate external investment pool fund column under the custodial funds classification.

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3.1.7.60 Number of funds

Governments should establish and maintain those funds required by law and sound financial administration. Only the minimum number of funds consistent with legal and operating requirements should be established. Using numerous funds results in inflexibility, undue complexity, and inefficient financial administration.

Local governments should periodically undertake a comprehensive evaluation of their fund structure to ensure that individual funds that became superfluous are eliminated from accounting and reporting.

Elected officials should be educated to the fact that accountability may be achieved effectively and efficiently by judicious use of department, program and other available account coding or cautious use of managerial (internal) funds.

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3.1.7.70 Budgeting, budgetary control and budgetary reporting

a. An annual/biennial budget must be adopted by every government.
b. The accounting system should provide the basis for appropriate budgetary control.
c. Budgetary comparisons must be included in the appropriate financial statements and schedules for funds for which an annual/biennial budget has been adopted.

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3.1.7.80 Transfer, revenue and expenditure account classifications

a. Interfund transfers, proceeds of general long-term debt issues and material proceeds of capital asset disposition should be classified separately from fund revenues and expenditures.
b. Governmental fund revenues should be classified by fund and by the sources indicated in BARS Account Export. Expenditures should be classified by fund and by the categories indicated in BARS Account Export.
c. Proprietary fund revenues and expenses should be classified in essentially the same manner as those of similar business organizations, functions, or activities.

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3.1.7.80 Common terminology and classification

A common terminology and classification should be used consistently throughout the budget, the accounts, and the financial reports of each fund.

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3.1.7.90 Interim and annual financial reports

a. Appropriate interim financial statements and reports of operating results and other pertinent information should be prepared to facilitate management control of financial operations, legislative oversight, and, where necessary or desired, for external reporting purposes. (RCW 35.33.141, RCW 35A.33.140 and RCW 36.40.210)

b. Annual reporting requirements are prescribed by the State Auditor’s Office. See BARS Manual 4.1.5, Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties or BARS Manual 4.1.6, Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Special Purpose Districts for details.

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This section was last edited by SAO on 02/07/23
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Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties

4 Reporting

4.1 Reporting Principles and Requirements

4.1.5 Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties

4.1.5.10 Pursuant to RCW 43.09.230, Annual Reports are to be certified and filed with the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) within 150 days after the close of each fiscal year.

4.1.5.20 The following matrix provides additional details regarding reporting requirements for governmental, proprietary and fiduciary funds.

X - Required to be prepared by cities and counties and submitted to the SAO
N/A - Not applicable; not required to be prepared by cities and counties.

Footnotes
[1] Cities were required to prepare the Schedule 06 beginning in reporting year 2019.
Counties are required to prepare the Schedule 06 for reporting year 2020.

[2] Cities with total revenues usually less than $300,000 are also required to submit a Schedule 22 Questionnaire.


Caution

4.1.5.30 The SAO online filing system will automatically produce the C-4 and C-5 statements for the local governments. Note that local governments with total revenues of $2 million or less are not required to prepare financial statements unless debt covenants, a contract, a grantor or the district’s legislative body requires the district to prepare the financial statements or if the government is to receive a financial statement audit. If this request is made, the financial statement package containing the C-4 and C-5 statements and notes should be prepared. The $2 million threshold calculation excludes any proceeds from issuance of long-term debt and resources held by the government in its fiduciary capacity.

4.1.5.40 If more than $750,000 in federal funding was expended by the entity during the year and a federal single audit is required, the entity must prepare financial statements if it has expenditures of federal moneys from more than one program or cluster. However, an entity that normally does not prepare financial statements may not need to prepare them for the single audit if it has expenditures from only one program or cluster. Entities should consult with their local SAO team or the SAO HelpDesk if they have questions about this requirement.

4.1.5.50 Forms

The templates for Online Filing for Schedules 01, 06, 09, 15 and 16 are available on the BARS Reporting Templates page on the SAO website. When using the Online Filing option, the system will create the Schedule based on data provided by the city/county on these templates.

Blank forms for other schedules are provided on the BARS Reporting Templates page. The use of these particular forms is not required; however, information requested by the form is prescribed. Specific instructions accompanying each statement and schedule identify which, if any, details are optional.

4.1.5.60 Subsequent corrections

All subsequent discoveries of errors and omissions in the annual report – from the date of original submission up through the end of the audit applicable to that period – are required to be corrected by resubmitting the annual report. For any misstatements discovered during the audit, governments should ensure open communication with the audit team about the correction. Any misstatements discovered after the audit is completed that affect Schedule 01 should be recorded as a prior period adjustment. If misstatements discovered after completion of the audit are material, governments should immediately alert their audit team.

4.1.5.70 Filing instructions

Electronic reporting is strongly encouraged when filing annual reports. Annual reports should be submitted via the Online Filing option on the State Auditor’s website at: https://portal.sao.wa.gov/saoportal/. Acceptable file should adhere to the prescribed record layout and should be an Excel file. It should include column headings. All columns must be formatted as text except the Actual Amount column which is numeric. More details are provided on the website.

For questions and/or support e-mail the SAO HelpDesk through Online Services.

If the city or county cannot provide the annual report in the electronic format it should mail completed physical templates to:

Annual Report
State Auditor’s Office
Local Government Support Team
P.O. Box 40031
Olympia, WA 98504-0031

4.1.5.80 Certification

Electronic reporting through the SAO website will require electronic certification of the annual report during the final steps of the submission process.

If the city or county cannot utilize the electronic reporting, prepare the certification form (provided on the BARS Reporting Templates page), including signature and date and include this form when mailing your report.

4.1.5.90 The following matrix describes required statements and schedules for cash basis cities and counties and the scope of each schedule.

Footnote
[1] There should be only one general fund. Also, if the local government accounts for the debt and capital projects related to proprietary activities in funds other than proprietary, these activities should be incorporated in the appropriate proprietary fund. All interfund transactions between funds which are combined for reporting purposes should be eliminated to avoid double counting.


Annual Report Disclosure Form
MCAG No. _______
(City/County)

(This form is not required if you are submitting the annual report electronically.)

Use the column which is appropriate for your government type. Please place a check mark or "Y" if the statements/schedules are attached. If financial statements and/or are not applicable, mark the spot "NA" (not applicable). An "NA" in your government type column will indicate that a schedule is not attached due to lack of activities described in the schedule in reported year. The blocked spot indicates the schedule is not required for that government type.

Footnotes
[1] Only cities and counties with revenue of $2 million or more are required to prepare the notes to the financial statements. See Caution, above.

[2] See BARS Manual for detailed instructions indicating which cities are required to prepare this schedule.

[3] Only cities with revenue usually less than $300,000 are required to prepare this schedule.

This section was last edited by SAO on 12/13/22
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Table of Contents

Index of Sections

Charts of Accounts1
BARS Account Export 
General Ledger Accounts1.2
Object Codes1.4
Revenue/Expenditure Accounts Overview1.14
Account Structure1.1
Applicability1.1.6
Structure1.1.2
Budgeting2
Budget Compliance2.4
Introduction2.4.1
Budget Adoption and Amendments2.4.3
Budget Process2.4.2
Accounting3
Accounting Principles and Internal Control3.1
Fund Types and Accounting Principles3.1.7
Bank Reconciliations3.1.9
Beginning and Ending Cash and Investments Classifications3.1.8
Internal Control3.1.3
Original Supporting Documentation3.1.4
Assets3.2
Compensating Balances3.2.5
County’s External Investment Pool3.2.9
Deposits and Investments3.2.1
Money Held in Trust3.2.4
Special Assessments3.2.7
Sweeping Interest and Investment Returns into General Fund3.2.3
Capital Assets3.3
Capital Assets Management3.3.8
Liabilities3.4
Accounting for LOCAL Program Financing Activities3.4.11
Bonds and Revenue Warrants3.4.3
Environmental and Certain Assets Retirement Liabilities3.4.18
Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans3.4.7
Issuance of Duplicate Instruments3.4.5
Leases and Installment Purchases3.4.1
Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB)3.4.16
Pension Liabilities3.4.13
Refunding Debt3.4.14
Solid Waste Utilities: Closure and Postclosure Cost Accounting3.4.10
Revenues3.6
Cash Receipting3.6.1
County Auditor's Operation and Maintenance Fund (Recording Fees)3.6.2
County Treasurer's Operation and Maintenance Fund3.6.3
Criminal Justice Funding3.6.4
Diversion of County Road Property Tax3.6.5
Electronic Funds Transfer – Receipts3.6.6
Impact Fees3.6.14
Liquor Tax and Profits Two Percent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs3.6.8
Prosecuting Attorneys' Salaries3.6.12
Suspense Funds3.6.11
Utility Tax3.6.13
Working Advances from Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS)3.6.10
Awards (Formerly Grants)3.7
Certain Grants and Other Financial Assistance (Formerly Pass-Through Grants)3.7.2
Federal Awards (Formerly Grants Accounting)3.7.1
Expenditures3.8
Confidential Funds (Drug Buy Money, Investigative Funds)3.8.9
Electronic Funds Transfer – Disbursements3.8.11
Employee Travel3.8.2
Imprest, Petty Cash and Other Revolving Funds3.8.8
Memberships in Civic and Service Organizations3.8.13
Mobile Devices3.8.3
Paths and Trails – Accounting3.8.10
Purchase Cards3.8.4
Redeemed Warrants/Cancelled Checks3.8.7
Unemployment and Deferred Compensation3.8.1
Use of Payroll and Claims Funds3.8.6
Voter Registration and Election Costs Allocation3.8.12
Voucher Certification and Approval3.8.5
Interfund Activities3.9
Interfund Activities Overview3.9.8
Equipment Rental and Revolving (ER&R) Fund3.9.7
Loans3.9.1
Overhead Cost Allocation3.9.5
Property Transfers3.9.2
Reimbursements3.9.4
Utility Surplus Transfers3.9.3
Compliance3.10
Bond Coverage for Public Officials and Employees3.10.3
County Fair Operations3.10.1
Limitation of Indebtedness3.10.5
New Entity Creation and Dissolution Notification3.10.6
Promotional Hosting3.10.7
Public Works Records3.10.4
Reporting Losses of Public Funds or Assets or Other Illegal Activity3.10.2
Special Topics3.11
Transportation Benefit District (TBD)3.11.1
Reporting4
Reporting Principles and Requirements4.1
Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties4.1.5
Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Special Purpose Districts4.1.6
Certification4.1.3
GAAP Versus Cash Basis Reporting4.1.7
Financial Statements4.3
Determining Fiduciary Activities to be Reported in Custodial Funds4.3.14
Fund Resources and Uses Arising from Cash Transactions (C-4)4.3.12
Fiduciary Fund Resources and Uses Arising from Cash Transactions (C-5)4.3.13
Notes to Financial Statements4.6
Instructions4.6.2
Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
See the BARS Manual 4.6 menu for additional Note X templates/instructions.
Supplementary and Other Information4.14
Liabilities (Schedule 09)4.14.13
Expenditures of Federal Awards (Schedule 16)4.14.5
SAO Annual Report Schedules4.8
Revenues/Expenditures/Expenses (Schedule 01)4.8.1
Summary of Bank Reconciliation (Schedule 06)4.8.17
Expenditures of State Financial Assistance (Schedule 15)4.8.16
Public Works − Cities and Counties (Schedule 17)4.8.6
Sales and Use Tax for Public Facilities – Rural Counties (Schedule 20)4.8.8
Risk Management (Schedule 21)4.8.9
Assessment Questionnaire (Schedule 22)4.8.14

This section was last edited by SAO on 12/16/22
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BARS Alerts & Overview of Changes

BARS Alerts

02/07/2023Opioid Settlement Update
12/17/2022Annual update, see changes in table below

Overview of Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2022

TopicReferenceDescription of Changes
   Chart of Account
BARS Account Export512.50 (Municipal Court Expenses)512.50 (Municipal Court Expense) – Retired see 512.51 and 512.52

BARS Account Export

512.51 (Non-Contracted Court)512.51 New Code – This code is to be used for municipal governments that provide their own court services.
BARS Account Export512.52 (Contracted Courts)512.52 New Code – This code is to be used when a municipal government contracts out their court services and should also be used by governments providing the court services to another municipality.
BARS Account Export 54P (Transportation)Transportation codes are restricted to governmental funds (Exceptions are codes 542.65, 547.10, 546.00, 547.20)
BARS Account Export341.81 (Data/Word Processing, Printing, Duplication & IT services)341.81 (Data/Word Processing, Printing, Duplication & IT services) Allowed for Fire Districts that provide IT services to other Fire Districts.
BARS Account Export518.61 (Judgments & Settlements)518.61 (Judgments & Settlements) Restricted to fund types 100, 200, 300, 500, 700. Only to be used by general purpose governments.
BARS Account Export333.45.30 (Federal Indirect Award from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS))333.45.30 New Code – This code is to be used for federal indirect awards from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
BARS Account Export331.45.30 (Federal Direct Award from Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS))331.45.30 New Code – This code is to be used for federal direct awards from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
BARS Account ExportAdded instructions and a new resource "Codes to Funds"Added instructions for chart of accounts export. All codes from the Chart of Accounts as of November 30th are included in the resource with the allowable fund types indicated.

Budgeting

Budget Adoption and Amendments2.4.32.4.3 Removed statement that this guidance applies only to cities and counties since it applies to all government types.
  

Accounting

Original Supporting Documentation3.1.43.1.4 Clarified guidance on electronic documentation and digital signatures.
Fund Types & Accounting Principles3.1.73.1.7.40 – Clarified how to account for non-cash transactions and receipting by a third party for the benefit of the government.
3.1.7.50 – Clarified which transactions can be reported in Permanent Funds.
Leases and Installment Purchases3.4.13.4.1 Leases – New section for the leases standard
Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans3.4.73.4.7 Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans – Moved accounting for forgivable loans out of the Schedule 09 instructions and added information on intergovernmental loans.
Accounting for LOCAL Program Financing Activities3.4.113.4.11.30 – Added that deposits of LOCAL program resources into bank accounts besides LGIP still must be reported.
Pension Liabilities3.4.133.4.13 Updates, changes, and clarifications for reporting pensions made throughout.
Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB)3.4.163.4.16 Updates, changes, and clarifications for reporting other postemployment benefits made throughout.
Federal Awards - Accounting3.7.13.7.1 Updates, changes, and clarifications for reporting federal awards made throughout (annual updates).
Use of Payroll and Claims Funds3.8.63.8.6.30 – Added information on registered warrants issued by counties.
Imprest, Petty Cash and Other Revolving Funds3.8.83.8.8.20 – Added a new section, bullet 6, for debit and ATM card use.
Interfund Loans3.9.13.9.1.10 – Added when interfund loans could be used and requirements for interfund loans from the General Fund.
3.9.1.31 – Added information on negative fund balances and the accounting for those balances.
3.9.1.32 – Added information on when interfund payments become interfund loans.
Limitation of Indebtedness3.10.53.10.5.60 – Changed capital leases to installment purchases
3.10.5.70 – Added leases to the obligations that do not constitute debt for debt limitation.
Promotional Hosting3.10.7Added public facility districts to governments that can participate in promotional hosting.
Reporting
Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties4.1.5Removed Schedule 19 from the list of required schedules.
Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Special Purpose Districts4.1.6Removed Schedule 19 from the list of required schedules.
Determining Fiduciary Activities to be Reported in Custodial Funds4.3.144.3.14 Added determinations for Flexible Savings (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), both when a government controls the asset and when the government does not.
Sales and Use Tax for Public Facilities – Rural Counties (Schedule 20)4.8.84.8.8 Added an example of the new online filing template for Schedule 20.
Expenditures of Federal Awards (Schedule 16)4.14.54.14.5 Updates, changes, and clarifications for reporting federal awards made throughout (annual updates).
Schedule of Long-term Liabilities (Schedule 09)4.14.134.14.13 Removed information on forgivable loans. It was moved to the new Intergovernmental and Forgivable Loans section. Added Schedule 09 lease reporting ID#s.
Note X – Budget ComplianceNote X – Budget ComplianceAdded information for reporting biennial budgets.
Note X – COVID-19Note X – COVID-19Removed the requirements for all governments to report this note.
Note X – Fiduciary ActivititesNote X – Fiduciary ActivititesRemoved.
Note X – Going ConcernNote X – Going ConcernAdded instructions for when to use each part of the note.
Note X – Leases (Lessees)Note X – Leases (Lessees)New note for disclosing lease liabilities.
Note X – Long-term DebtNote X – Long-term DebtAdded information for conduit debt.
Note X – Pension PlansNote X – Pension PlansUpdates, changes, and clarifications for reporting pensions made throughout.
Note X – TelecommunicationsNote X – TelecommunicationsNew note for governments that are providing telecommunications services (wholesale and retail broadband).
  Online Filing
Schedule 01 TemplatesBARS Reporting TemplatesSchedule 01 templates for online filing schedules have been updated.
Pension and OPEB TemplatesBARS Reporting TemplatesFiscal year 2022 Pension Calculation Worksheet template is available for download.
Schedule 19 – Labor RelationsBARS Reporting TemplatesRemoved due to change in state law.

BARS Alerts

12/17/2021Leases accounting is effective for fiscal year 2022 reporting in 2023.
See the Leases project page for more information.
12/17/2021Annual update, see changes in table below

Overview of Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2021

TopicReferenceDescription of Changes
   Chart of Account
BARS Account ExportAll BARS CodesRemember to download the most current version of the BARS Chart of Accounts.

BARS Account Export

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 Export344.71 (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 Export369.70 (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 Export518.61 (Judgments and Settlements)518.61 (Judgments and Settlement) Updated description to include proprietary funds
BARS Account Export544.70 (Miscellaneous)544.70 (Miscellaneous) - Retired, use appropriate 544XX codes
BARS Account Export547.00 (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 Export547.10 (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 Export547.20 (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.
  

Accounting

Fund Types & Accounting Principles3.1.7Internal 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 Pools3.2.9Updated and clarified this section. Applicable to all counties.
Capital Asset Management3.3.83.3.8.10 Added the definition of impairment and the coding of impairment transactions.
Refunding Debt3.4.143.4.14.100 Updated the journal entry examples for refunding debt.
Environmental and Certain Assets Retirement Liabilities3.4.183.4.18.30, 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 Funding3.6.43.6.4.10 Added how to code the sale of confiscated and forfeited items.
Impact Fees3.6.14New section - Added the accounting for impact fees under RCW 82.02 and 39.92.040
Federal Awards - Accounting (Formerly Grants - Accounting)3.7.13.7.1 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)3.7.23.7.2 Changed title to Certain Grants and Other Financial Assistance to match national standard titles.
Purchase Cards3.8.43.8.4.10 Removed references to debit cards
Added Additional Reference Section
   
  

Reporting

Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties4.1.54.1.5.30 Clarified instances where cities/towns and counties do not need to prepare financial statements.
Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Special Purpose Districts4.1.6Added 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)4.8.1Rewrote the section to provide additional links and instructions.
Public Works (Schedule 17)4.8.64.8.6.30 Clarified that the amount reported on the Schedule 17 should include all public works, including county road construction.
Risk Management (Schedule 21)4.8.94.8.9.40 Clarified definitions in the instructions to preparer.
Annual Questionnaire for Accountability Audit (Schedule 22)4.8.144.8.14.10 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)4.14.5Added 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 PoliciesNote 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting PoliciesCorrected ending classifications that are different from GAAP bullet.
Note X – Joint Ventures, Component Unit(s), and Related PartiesNote X – Joint Ventures, Component Unit(s), and Related PartiesClarified when a joint venture, component unit and foundation should be reported.
Separated related party from the other items.
Note X – COVID-19Note X – COVID-19All local governments must include this note.
Provided examples for when there has been no substantial impacts.
Note X – Environmental and Certain Asset Retirement LiabilitiesNote X – Environmental and Certain Asset Retirement LiabilitiesRemoved section from Note X - Other Disclosures and provided more examples for different situations.
Note X – Other DisclosuresNote X – Other DisclosuresRemoved the Environmental and Certain Asset Retirement Liabilities section.
   Online Filing
Schedule 01Schedule 01Schedule 01 templates for online filing schedules have been updated.
Pension and OPEB TemplatesPension and OPEB TemplatesFiscal year 2021 Pension and OPEB templates are available for download
Online Filing Flag DescriptionsOnline Filing Flag DescriptionsUpdated the Guide to Online Filing Flag Descriptions to include new red flags.

BARS Alerts

04/24/2020COVID-19 BARS Coding
10/01/2020CARES Act Grant Monies Expenditure Codes
12/18/2020Annual update, see changes below
3/12/2021COVID-19 Vaccine and Donating PPE Reporting Requirements

Overview of Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2020

TopicReferenceDescription of Changes
  

Chart of Accounts

BARS Account ExportAll BARS CodesRemember to download the most current version of the BARS Chart of Accounts.

BARS Account Export

386 (Court Remittances) 3860000 –
Updated the referenced RCWs for courts.
Allowed only in Fiduciary Funds.
BARS Account Export586 (Court Remittances)5860000 –
Updated the referenced RCWs for courts.
Allowed only in Fiduciary Funds.
BARS Account Export Any use of all functional BARS accounts in fiduciary funds389/589, 386/586 and 361 are the ONLY codes allowed in fiduciary funds. All other codes will be red flagged.
BARS Account Export3899000 (Other Custodial Activities)3899000 –
Only allowed in governmental and proprietary funds, not allowed in the fiduciary funds.
BARS Account Export5899000 (Other Custodial Activities)5899000 –
Only allowed in governmental and proprietary funds, not allowed in the fiduciary funds.
BARS Account Export316.40 (Business & Occupation Tax – Utility)316.40 (Business & Occupation Tax – Utility) –
Not allowed in proprietary funds.
BARS Account Export341/51P (General Government)341 and 51P (General Government) BARS Codes →
Allowed only in governmental funds and internal service funds.

Exception - 341.70 Sale of Merchandise - allowed in governmental and proprietary funds.

See additional 518 information below.
BARS Account Export343.60 (Cemetery Sales & Services)343.60 (Cemetery Sales & Services) –
Not allowed in permanent funds.
BARS Account Export343.80/538.00 (Combined Utilities)343.80/538.00 (Combined Utilities) –
Allowed only for Public Utility Districts.
BARS Account Export348.00 (Internal Service Funds Sales and Services)348.00 (Internal Service Funds Sales and Services) –
Allowed only in internal service funds. Read more about the use of 348.00 and internal service funds in the audit connection blog, “BARS Code Spotlight”.
BARS Account Export382/582 (Deposits/Retainage)382/582 (Deposits/Retainage) –
Not allowed in fiduciary funds. Allowed only in the governmental and proprietary funds.
BARS Account Export518 (Centralized/General Services) CodesAll 518 (Centralized/General Services) –
For general purpose governments only.

518.65 Impact Fee Distributions to Local Governments - General Fund and Special Revenue Fund use only.

518.70 Printing Services - General Fund and Internal Service Fund use only.

518.80 Information Technology Services - General Fund and Internal Service Fund use only.

All other 518 codes not listed above - Allowed in all governmental funds or internal service funds.
BARS Account Export519 (Risk Management Services)For general purpose governments only.
Allowed only in general fund and internal service fund.   
*Exception: Risk Pools may use 519 in enterprise funds.
BARS Account Export541 (Roads/Streets Construction – Preservation Projects)541 (Roads/Streets Construction – Preservation Projects) –
This GAAP only code is no longer active in the Cash Basis Chart of Accounts.
BARS Account Export548 (Public Works – Centralized Services)548 (Public Works – Centralized Services) –
Allowed only in general fund and internal service fund.
BARS Account Export308 / 508 (beginning/ending cash and investment balance codes)Cash Basis Cash and Investment Balance Codes –
308.21/508.21: Allowed only in permanent funds and private-purpose trust funds.
308.31/508.31: Allowed in all fund types.
308.41/508.41: Allowed in all fund types except fiduciary. 308.51/508.51: Allowed in all fund types except fiduciary. *308.91/508.91: Allowed in all fund types except fiduciary.
*Only the general fund can report a positive unassigned balance.
   
Budgeting
Budget Adoption and Amendments2.4.3Updated the referenced RCWs and updated for any changes to RCWs
  

Accounting

Fund Types & Accounting Principles3.1.7Fiduciary funds – Added a reference to the new Determining Fiduciary Activities to be Reported in Custodial Funds
Beginning and Ending Cash and Investments Classifications3.1.8Updated full section to include the new beginning and ending cash and investments classifications
County External Investment Pools3.2.93.2.9.20 updated link to the RCW
Capital Asset Management3.3.83.3.8.40 Clarified the definition and requirements for capitalization threshold
Accounting for LOCAL Program3.4.11Updated the Washington State Treasurer link to the LOCAL program
Pensions3.4.13Annual update for the DRS PEFI changes
OPEB3.4.163.4.17.80 Updated the years in the measurement date table
Liquor Tax and Profits – Two Percent Substance Abuse Treatment Programs3.6.83.6.8.10 Changed "Programs must be approved by the behavioral health organization and the secretary of the Department of Social and Health Services" to "…secretary of the Department of Health" to match RCW 71.24.555
DSHS Advances3.6.10Removed references to modified accrual accounting
Grants – Accounting3.7.13.7.1 Updated references to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circulars
3.7.1.20 Included other federal financial assistance guidance
3.7.1.30 Removed reference to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)
3.7.1.30 Added Identification of COVID-19 related awards requirements
3.7.1.41 Removed the Common Rule Administrative Requirements section
3.7.1.51 Removed the OMB Circular A-87 Cost Principals section
Unemployment and Deferred Compensation3.8.13.8.1.100 Added requirements for reporting defined compensation plans.
Paths and Trails3.8.10Updated references to RCW
3.8.10.70 Updated references to reserved versus restricted
Overhead Cost Allocation3.9.5Updated references to RCW
3.9.5.80 Removed references to OMB Circular A-87
3.9.5.100 Removed references to OMB Circular A-87
Added an "Additional resources" section
Limitation of Indebtedness3.10.5Updated references to RCW
Created a Footnotes section
Transportation Benefit Districts3.11.13.11.1.120 Changed a reference from a negative 3850000 code to a 5850000 code.
Added an Additional Resources section
   
  

Reporting

Reporting Requirements and Filing Instructions for Cities and Counties4.1.54.1.5.10 Removed references to the Schedule 07 and Schedule 11
4.1.5.10 Updated the county requirements to include the Schedule 06
Fund Resources and Uses Arising from Cash Transactions (C-4)4.3.12Updated section to remove references to reserved/unreserved and replaced with new cash and investment classifications
4.3.12.100 Updated the sample C-4 with new format
Determining Fiduciary Activities Reported in Custodial Funds4.3.14New section for determining fiduciary custodial funds
Schedule 064.8.17City and County Fiscal Year 2020 reporting requirement
Clarified instructions for the Schedule 06
Schedule 094.14.13Section number updated to 4.14.13 (from 4.8.13).
4.14.13.100 Updated information on reporting pension (264.30) and OPEB liabilities (264.40)
4.14.13.110 Updated the due date instructions to list I.D. Numbers that do not require a due date to be reported.
Schedule 164.14.5Section number updated to 4.14.5 (from 4.8.5).
Annual update for SEFA including updates to the note requirements and COVID-19 reporting requirements
Schedule 174.8.64.8.6.20 Updated reporting requirements for counties due to changes in RCW
Schedule 214.8.94.8.9.20 Added information for the Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave self-insurance.
Note 1 – SSAPNote 1 – SSAPRemoved references to reserved/unreserved and updated with new cash and investment classification
Note X – COVID-19Note X – COVID-19Created a separate note for COVID-19 reporting requirements
Note X – Going ConcernNote X – Going ConcernClarified reporting requirements and included reporting requirements for bankruptcy
Note X – Long-term Debt (formerly Debt Service Requirements)Note X – Long-term Debt (formerly Debt Service Requirements)Updated the disclosure to include direct borrowings, direct placements, and significant debt agreement terms
Note X – Other DisclosuresNote X – Other DisclosuresRemoved reference to COVID-19 required note
Note X – PFML Note X – PFML New note for disclosure for governments that are self-insured for the Washington Paid Family & Medical Leave 
   Online Filing
Schedule 01Schedule 01All Schedule 01s are updated for the new cash and investment balance classifications
Schedule 06Schedule 06Schedule 06 is required for Fiscal Year 2020 reporting for both cities and counties
Schedule 07Schedule 07Schedule 07 has been removed. Replaced with the Schedule 06.
Schedule 11Schedule 11Schedule 11 has been removed. Replaced with the Schedule 06.
Schedule 16Schedule 16Schedule 16 and the Schedule 16 Notes have been updated for the required reporting of CARES Act monies
Schedule 21Schedule 21Schedule 21 has been updated it include new questions and information on the PFML (State medical leave)
Pension and OPEB TemplatesPension and OPEB TemplatesFiscal Year 2020 Pension and OPEB templates are being refreshed and will be available for download.
Online Filing Flag DescriptionsOnline Filing Flag DescriptionsGuide to Online Filing Flag Descriptions has been added to the Forms and Other Resources section of the BARS Reporting Templates page.

BARS Alerts

01/13/2020Annual update, see changes below
04/07/2020Note X - Deposits and Investments Update
04/21/2020Note X - Other Disclosures (Subsequent Event COVID-19)
04/24/2020COVID-19 BARS Coding
10/01/2020CARES Act Grant Monies Expenditure Codes

Overview of Significant Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2019

 Topic

 

Reference

 

Description of Changes

 

  

CHART OF ACCOUNTS

BARS Account Export 3952000, Compensation for Loss/Impairment of Capital Assets3952000, Compensation for Loss/Impairment of Capital Assets
Added the following information: Insurance recoveries that are related to storm cleanup and are realized, or are measurable and available, in the same year as the related cleanup expenditures should be netted against those expenditures. Insurance recoveries that are related to cleanup and are recognized in subsequent periods should be reported as other financing sources or extraordinary items, as appropriate.

BARS Account Export

3132700, Affordable and Supportive Housing Sales and Use Tax 3132700, Affordable and Supportive Housing Sales and Use Tax
A new BARS code 3132700 was assigned to code the sales and use tax authroized by the SHB 1406, Laws of 2019.

BARS Account Export

Department of Health supplementFor BARS codes 5620000
Added the link to the new Department of Health supplement for BARS codes 5620000 which includes the detailed codes.
BARS Account Export 5100000 GuidanceFor BARS codes 5100000, General government function, these codes should only be used by cities, towns, and counties. Risk Pools may use 5190000.
BARS Account Export5990000 GuidanceFor BARS codes 5990000, Payments for Refunded Debt, these codes should be used for payments to an escrow agent for refunding debt payments and direct payments of refunded debt (e.g., BANs, refinancing or loans, etc.). Note this correlates to current refundings, advanced refundings utilize 5930000 codes.
Revenue/Expenditure Accounts Overview 1.14.10Other Increases and Other Decreases in Fund Resources
Added BARS Codes 3821000, Refundable Deposits, 3822000, Retainage Deposits, and 5821000, Refund of Deposits, 5822000, Refund of Retainage Deposits to be used for deposits that are not custodial activities. These codes are replacing 3891000, 5891000, 3892000, 5892000 which are no longer valid BARS codes.
Object CodesRemoved the reminder that 2018 was the final year for use of object code 50.

 

General Ledger Accounts
1.2.30 Updated the General Ledger Chart to match the Schedule 09 coding requirement and simplified other sections.
   
  

ACCOUNTING

Internal Control3.1.33.1.3.10 Updated information about the "Green Book."
3.1.3.30 Added information that states the SAO is not part of the internal control functions of a government.
3.1.3.40 Updated the five components of internal controls.
3.1.3.90 Updated information about the different areas that should be reviewed for creating internal controls.
Original Supporting Documentation3.1.43.1.4.10 Updated the link to the Local Government Records Retention Schedule.
Fund Types and Accounting Principles3.1.73.1.7.50 Added clarifying information about Debt service funds, Capital project funds, and Fiduciary funds.
Bank Reconciliations3.1.9New section on bank reconciliations.
Transportation Benefit Districts (TBD)3.11.13.11.1.70 Removed reference to object code 50 in reference to contract expenditure and updated to object code 40.
Capital Assets Management 

3.3.8

3.3.8.60 Added information that is required to be recorded for each capital asset, and clarified some of the tracking system requirements.

Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB)

3.4.163.4.16.30 Included information about OPEB reporting requirements, the types of OPEB plans, links to the State Actuary tools used for liability calculations. OPEB liability reporting on the Schedule 09 required in 2019.
Environmental and Certain Assets Retirement Liabilities3.4.183.4.18.20 Included information about common indicators of obligations arising from operations.
County Auditor’s Operation and Maintenance Fund (Recording Fees)3.6.2Counties - 3.6.2.75 Added reference to RCW 36.22.240 and requirements.
Electronic Funds Transfer - Receipts3.6.6Removed "signed" in 3.6.620 b. which now says "A file must be maintained of those payers who have authorized to add moneys to your account electronically including the proceeds form third party vendors for credit card remittances."
Electronic Funds Transfer - Disbursement3.8.11Removed "signed" in 3.8.11.20 b. which now says "A file must be maintained of authorizations by payees who have therby agreed to have moneys added to their accounts electronically."
Electronic Funds Transfer - Disbursement3.8.11Added the fourth bullet in 3.8.11.30 which now says "Policies and procedures should be in place to validate these authorization to protect resources being transferred electronically."
   
  

REPORTING

Fund Resources and Uses Arising from Cash Transactions (C-4)4.3.124.3.12.60 Changed "other increases in fund resources" and "other decreases in fund resources" to "other increases" and "other decreases."
Fiduciary Fund Resources and Uses Arising from Cash Transactions (C-5)4.3.134.3.13.40 Changed "Prior Period Adjustments, Net" to "Net Adjustments."
Expenditures of Federal Awards (Schedule 16)4.8.5 4.8.5.40 Removed reference to the fact that the SEFA must be prepared on the same basis of accounting since Uniform Guidance does not require the SEFA.
4.8.5.50 Removed references to CFDA 10.665: Title I - Schools and Roads, Title II - Special Projects on Federal Land, Title III - County Projects in the Direct costs of expenditure transactions associated with grants, cost-reimbursement contracts, cooperative agreements, and direct appropriations.
4.8.5.128 Revised the requirements for Disbursements to Subrecipients to "expended" rather than "paid."
4.8.5.130 Updated the exceptions for EPA Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.468) and Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CFDA 66.458).
4.8.5.230 Removed Note 8 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 from the SEFA Notes Template.
Summary of Bank Reconciliations (Schedule 06)4.8.17Rewrote the complete section to match the new Schedule 06.
Note 1 - Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Added a link to the new Component Unit(s), Joint Ventures, and Related Parties note.
Note X - Component Unit(s), Joint Ventures, and Related PartiesCreated a new note to move the guidance for component units, joint ventures, and related parties. Note - this information was previously located in the "Other Disclosures" note template.
Note X - Debt Service RequirementsInstructions to Preparer -
Added "When reporting loans, only amount actually drawn should be included here.
Note X - Deposits and InvestmentsRewrote the note template and added to the note to include investment pool requirements.
Note X - External Investment PoolNew Note
Counties - Provided guidance for disclosing external investment pools.
Note X - OPEB PlansAdded the reporting of the OPEB liability and examples in the instructions to preparers.
Note X - Other DisclosuresRemoved information for related parties, component units or joint ventures. Added information about Pollution Remediation/Retirement of Certain Assets.
Note X - Pension PlansAdded guidance for defined contribution pension plans when a government contributes.
   
  

ONLINE FILING

Schedule 01Red FlagsGovernments will receive a red flag if they report functional codes in custodial funds. Note only applicable 36X and 389/589 codes may be used.
Schedule 06RequirementsSchedule 06 is required for CASH basis cities and towns for FY2019. Optional for CASH basis counties for FY2019, required for FY2020 reporting. Schedule 06 template is available on the BARS Reporting templates page.
Schedule 09264.40, OPEB LiabilitiesAdded 264.40 to the Schedule 09 codes for reporting OPEB liabilities.
Schedule 09263.93, Environmental liabilities Added 263.93 to the Schedule 09 codes for reporting Environmental liabilities (e.g. pollution remediation, certain asset retirement, etc.).
   

Overview of Significant Changes – Applicable to the Reporting Year 2018

TopicReferenceDescription of Changes
  CHART OF ACCOUNTS
BARS Account Export3132500, Housing and Related Services Sale and Use TaxNew account for governments collecting sales and use tax as authorized in RCW 82.14.530.
BARS Account Export3329330, Medical Transformation DemonstrationNew account for revenues for Medicaid payments related to an implementation of the Transformation Plans. The addition was communicated on August 1, 2018 in BARS Alert.
BARS Account Export3329340, Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) Payment ProgramNew account for revenues from Medicaid related to the GEMT program. The addition was communicated on August 1, 2018 in BARS Alert.
BARS Account Export3360211, County Fair FundExpanded definition to clarify use of this code.
BARS Account Export3360700, PFD Lodging Tax DistributionCode applicable only to Seattle and King County.
BARS Account Export3432000, Television/Cable/Internet Sales and ServicesExpanded the title and the definition to include internet services as authorized by Chapter 186, Laws of 2018.
BARS Account Export3697000, Pension/OPEB ContributionsRevised title and definition to clarify use of this account for pension and OPEB related revenues only.
BARS Account Export51530, Legal ServicesThe account was divided between internal and external legal services. Within each category were created more separate accounts for different specific legal expenditures. The change will allow governments to analyze and compare costs much more effectively. This also aligns accounting records with procedures auditors are required by professional standards to perform on legal liabilities, so it will help make the audit process more efficient. This change was already announced in 2016 and was not required for the FY 2017 reports; however, the new accounts will be required for 2018 reporting.
Object Codes Object code 50 was removed and the definitions of object codes 30 and 40 adjusted to include the transactions which were previously reported using object 50. For other details see BARS Alert issued August 1, 2018.
   
  ACCOUNTING
Fund Types and Accounting Principles3.1.7The recent changes in governmental accounting regarding fiduciary activities are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018; however we incorporated the required changes in this version of manual. The additional information will be available on our website under Fiduciary Funds in BARS manual.

 

Also, updated was the discussion of enterprise [400] funds. There are no new reporting requirements and the update expands the current prescription.

Capital Assets Management3.3.8The entire section was revised to provide a comprehensive guidance for accounting of capital assets. The update also incorporates the changes to RCW 36.32.210 which removed the annual inventory requirement. This change was communicated on March 21, 2018 in BARS Alert.
Other Postemployment Benefits (OPEB)3.4.16This section provides a short overview of other postemployment benefits (OPEB). Starting with financial reports for a fiscal year 2018, all local governments are required to report liabilities related to OPEB, if applicable, in the notes to the financial statements. [This update provides also samples of disclosure regarding OPEB in the Reporting/Notes to Financial Statements section.]
County Auditor’s Operation and Maintenance Fund (Recording Fees)3.6.2The section was updated to reflect the 2018 legislative changes in the amounts of collected surcharges.
Federal Grants Received During the Open Period – Accounting3.7.3The section was removed since it conflicts with statutory restrictions regarding an open period.
ER&R3.9.7New section was added regarding Equipment Rental and Revolving (ER&R) Fund. This guidance was previously available outside the BARS manual and it is now incorporated into the manual allowing an easy access.
Interfund Activities Overview3.9.8Added a new section to provide a general overview of interfund transactions.
   
  REPORTING
  The recent changes in governmental accounting regarding fiduciary activities are effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018; however we incorporated the required changes in this version of manual. The additional information will be available on our website under Fiduciary Funds in BARS manual.

 

The following sections were updated 4.1.5.90, 4.1.6.80, 4.3.13 (also includes the change in the pension trust fund title), 4.8.2.50, 4.8.4.30, 4.8.13.50, Note X- Deposits and Investments – paragraph [7]. These changes involved only a title change from agency to custodial funds.

Note 1 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies A. Fund Accounting – revised first paragraph; added investment and pension/OPEB trust funds to listing of fiduciary funds.

 

C. Budgets – the budgetary section was extracted and added as a separate note since budgetary disclosure is not considered an accounting policy.

Note X – Fiduciary Activities New note Fiduciary Activities was added to explain the change in counties’ reporting of 2017 money held for the special purpose districts. The affected counties were notified in an email dated May 29, 2018. The note is still required for the counties which will be reporting the special purpose districts for the first time in 2018. If they reported them in 2017, the note is not longer required.
Note X – OPEB Plans A new reporting requirements regarding other than pension postemployment benefits (OPEB). Please see the Accounting/Liabilities/Other Postemployment Benefits section for more details.
Schedule 07 The local government should prepare either the Schedule 07, Disbursement Activity and Schedule 11, Cash Activity OR Schedule 06, Summary of Bank Reconciliation for 2018 annual report.
Schedule 09 Clarified that the governments should be reporting both short- and long-term liabilities on the Schedule. Also added new ID. Numbers for registered warrants and lines of credits.
Schedule 11 The local government should prepare either the Schedule 07, Disbursement Activity and Schedule 11, Cash Activity OR Schedule 06, Summary of Bank Reconciliation for 2018 annual report.
Schedule 164.8.5.60

 

4.8.5.120

4.8.5.130

4.8.5180

Note 4, Federal Loans

Revision reflect the clarification for reporting federal grants provided by federal agencies.

 

Remove discussion regarding ARRA grants.

The example of reporting FEMA grants was updated.

Updated for changes related to reporting the following grants: EPA Drinking Water (CFDA 66.468), Clean Water (CFDA 66.458), USDA Interim Financing (CFDA10.760) and (CFDA 10.766).

Revised rules for reporting grants with missing CFDA numbers.

Added sentence regarding interim financing.

Schedule 21 The Schedule was revised to provide relevant information needed in assessing and auditing governments’ risk management circumstances.
   
  ONLINE FILING
Schedule 09 The Schedule 09, Schedule of Liabilities, includes a new validation check for net pension liabilities. Governments will receive a red flag if they have pension related liabilities but do not report them on the Schedule 09 or if they are using the incorrect ID No.