The Accounting Cycle for Governmental Funds and Account Groups

Project elements

in chapter V of Financial Reporting in Government
By Dr. John Sacco , George Mason University
Revised Saturday, April 12, 1997

Introduction

The project element of the study aid section continues the goal of this chapter to learn about the accounting cycle. More specifically, in this project for chapter 5, the task is to complete a set of journal entries reflective of the cycle. These are journal entries that would lead to the operating statement, balance sheet and budget versus actual statement presented in the project element of chapter 3. In other words the end results and conditions were presented first; now the transactions leading to those results and conditions are presented. This approach is referred to as a user as opposed to a preparer approach. That is, the emphasis is on how to use and interpret the financial statements with less emphasis on how to prepare them. The approach can also be called a managerial perspective. Although the detailed accounting cyle is not the focus of this text, this project part of chapter 5 still goes through most of the cylce from

Project Assignment

Do all the journal entries including those for the account groups even though the account groups were not presented in chapter 3. Some hints and guides will be offered to assist with the journal entries. At this point the journal entries cannot be done interactively. Use a spreadsheet or print out this section and do the entries by hand then check them against the answers. The answers can be reached by the answer button at the end of each question section or by going directly to the answers at the end of this project.

Background

Background on the budget for the general fund: As with most governmental 
funds this cycle starts with budget information. 
A total of $1,044,500 is budgeted for revenues, including estimated collections in these categories:

taxes                             1000000
permits                              2000
intergovernmental                   40000
fees                                 2000
fines                                 500
total                             1044500
A total of $1,040,000 is appropriated for expenditures or transfers out. These include:

general government                 190000
safety                             350000
transportation                     100000
sanitation                         200000
welfare                            100000
recreation                          75000
other                               13500
transfer to pension                  9500
transfer to debt service             2000
total                             1040000

Question 1-- entering the budget

1. What journal entry is needed to enter the budget into the budget accounts?

Hint: The general form, assuming a surplus or positive fund balance, would be:

                    dr       cr
estimated revenues  $
         appropriations       $
         transfers out        $
         budget fund balance  $
Give the specific entry


Answer for question 1.

Question 2 -- entering the transactions

Do the journal entries for these transactions, noting whether the entry is for the general fund, capital projects, general fixed assets account group, or general long term debt account group. In some cases the fund or account name is given; in others it is not. Various hints are provided throughout but there are also many ? or places where the entry must be completed or done in its entirerty.

2.a. The general fund accrues all $1,000,000 of taxes

general fund              dr       cr
taxes receivable          ?
         ?                          ?
2.b. One half of the taxes are collected

general fund
?                                     500000
         taxes receivable                    ?
2.c. One half of the money is spent (in cash) for general goverment. Give the entry and fund name.

fund name ?
general government expenditure         95000
         ?                                                                  ?
2.d. The reminder of the taxes are collected.

fund ?
?                                     500000
         ?                                           ?
2.e. All of the intergovernmental revenue is collected in cash.

fund ?                             dr        cr
?                                   ?
         ?                                   ?
2.f. All the other revenues are collected as estimated for the general fund

What is the journal entry?


Supplies for recreation were ordered in the amount of $50,000. Use the encumbrance procedure and assume that the bill for the supplies arrived and was exactly equal to $50,000.

2.g.Name the fund and give the journal entry for the encumbrance?




2.h. What is the journal entry for the voucher payable and the payment?


2.i. Recreation salaries amounting to $25,000 were accrued. Of the amount 0.075 was withheld for social security tax (FICA). Identify the fund name and do the journal entry.

Hint on format:                dr            cr
fund name ?
Salary expenditures             ?
         Fica payable                         ?
         salary payable                       ?

salary payable                     ?
Fica payable                       ?
         cash                                 ?
2.i. The other half of the money is spent (in cash) for general goverment; it comes to $95,000. Give the fund and entry.

What fund?

What is the journal entry for this transaction?

2.k. All the safety, transportation, and welfare expenditures were made. Give the journal entry for this transaction.


2.l. The category of expenditures called other was made. What's the fund? Make the journal entry too.

2.m and n. The transfer was made to the pension fund -- $9,500. Record the transaction for both ledgers, general and pension.

2.m. general fund
Jounral entry?


2.n. pension fund
Jounral entry?
2. o and p. The transfer was made to the debt service fund -- 2000

Record the transaction for both ledgers, general and debt service.

2.o. fund ?
Jounral entry?
2.p. debt service fund
Jounral entry?
2.r and s. The capital project fund borrows the money for road repair -- $50,000

Record all entries, including those for the capital project fund and general long term debt account group. Interest is not payable until next year so there is no need to accrue it and thus no need to journalize it.

2.r. For the capital project fund what is the entry?


2.s. For the general long term debt account group what is the journal entry?


2.t and u.. The capital project expends the money for the road repairs. Record all entries, capital project and general fixed asset account group.

2.t. fund ?
road repair expenditure                50000
         cash                                ?
2.u. What is the entry for the general fixed asset account group?

Account                            dr        cr
?                                   ?
         ?                                   ?
For the answers for questions 2. a to 2. u use this button.

Question 3 -- closing entries

3. What would the closing entries be for the general fund and only the general fund? Ignore closing entries for all other funds.

Answers to question 3

Answers to the Questions for the project

Answer to question 1.

1. What journal entry is needed to enter the budget into
the budget accounts?

Hint: The general form, assuming a surplus or positive fund balance, would be:

estimated revenues  $
         appropriations       $
         transfers out        $
         budget fund balance  $
Give the specific entry


answer:
Budgetary entry for the general fund
                                          dr       cr
estimated revenues - taxes           1000000
estimated revenues - permits            2000
estimated revenues - intergovt         40000
estimated revenues - fees               2000
estimated revenues - fines               500
         appropriations - general govt         190000
         appropriations - safety               350000
         appropriations - transport            100000
         appropriations - sanitation           200000
         appropriations - welfare              100000
         appropriations - recreation            75000
         appropriations - other                 13500
         transfer out - pension                  9500
         transfer out - debt service             2000
         budget fund balance                     4500
This journal entry provides the details for each category instead of placing the details in subsidary ledgers. This practice of giving the details for budget entries is followed throughout the text. A subsidary approach would simply have the total for estimated revenue, for example, and then place the details in the subsidary ledgers.

Return to Question 1

Answers to Question 2

Do the journal entries for these transactions, noting whether the entry is for the general fund, capital projects, general fixed assets account group, or general long term debt account group.

2.a. The general fund accrues all         1000000 of taxes
fund name ?
                                    dr       cr
taxes receivable                    ?
         ?                                   ?

answer:
general fund
                                    dr       cr
taxes receivable                     1000000
         revenue - taxes                      1000000
A receivable is an asset and in this case it is increased, thus a debit; revenues constitute fund balance. Here revenues are increased, so it needs to be a credit, remembering that an increase in fund balance results in a credit.

2.b. One half of the taxes are collected general fund

?                                     500000
         taxes receivable                    ?

answer:
general fund
cash                                  500000
         taxes receivable                      500000
The asset cash is increased resulting in a debit. The asset taxes receivable is decreased resulting in a credit.

2.c. One half of the money is spent (in cash) for general goverment

fund name ?
general government expenditure         95000
         ?                                   ?

answer:

general fund
general government expenditure         95000
         Cash                                                         95000
Expenditures decrease fund balance which are presented with a debit. Here cash, an asset, is reduce, presented by a credit.

2.d. The reminder of the taxes are collected

fund ?
?                                     500000
         ?                                   ?

answer:
general fund
cash                                  500000
         taxes receivable                      500000
Recall that all the receivables were recognized or accrued with the initial entry. Then one half was collect, now the other half is collected.

2.e. All of the intergovernmental revenue is collected in cash.

fund ?
?                                   ?
         ?                                   ?

answer:
general fund
cash                                   40000
         revenue - intergovt                        40000
In this case the intergovernment revenue is not accrued as a receivable with a credit to deferred revenue. Assume it is the type of intergovernmental revenue that must be received to be recorded. Intergovernmental revenues differ in the way they are handled -- some are accrued as receivables but must be considered deferred revenue until the money is actually spent for a designated purpose. Then the jurisdiction bills the higher level of government, receives the money and recognizes a revenue. Other intergovermental revenue can be recognized as soon as the money is received. In this case revenue is recognized when the cash is received.

2.f. All the other revenues are collected as estimated.

general fund

What is the journal entry?
answer:
general fund
cash                           4500
         revenue - permits              2000
         revenue - fees                 2000
         revenue - fines                 500
2.g. Supplies for recreation were order in the amount of 500000 Use the encumbrance procedure and assume that the bill for the supplies arrived and was exactly equal to 500000

fund ?

What is the journal entry for the encumbrance?


answer:
general fund
encumbrance - supplies       500000
         reserve for encumbrance      500000
When the supplies are order, this is the initial entry.

reserve for encumbrance      500000
         encumbrance - supplies       500000
When the supplies and an invoice (bill) are received the the encumbrance entry for the puchase order is reversed in in the orginial amount encumbered regardless of the amount of the bill.

2.h. What is the journal entry for the voucher payable and the payment?


recreaction supplies expend  500000
         vouchers payable             500000

vouchers payable             500000
         cash                         500000
The bill is paid.
2.i. Recreation salaries amounting to 25000 were accrued. Of the amount 0.075 was withheld for social security tax (FICA)

hint:
fund name ?
Salary expenditures                 ?
         Fica payable                        ?
         salary payable                      ?

salary payable                      ?
Fica payable                                 ?
         cash                                ?

answer:
Salary expenditures                    25000
         Fica payable                            1875
         salary payable                         23125
The salary expenditure is the gross amount and the payable the net amount. The Fica payable is a deduction from the gross amount.


salary payable                         25000
Fica payable                                     1875
         cash                                   23125
The liabilities or payables are paid in cash.
2.j. The other half of the money is spent (in cash) for general goverment; it comes to 95000

fund ?

What is the journal entry for this transaction?

answer:
general govt expenditure      95000
         cash                          95000
2.k. All the safety, transportation, sanitation, and welfare expenditures were made.

general fund

Give the journal entry for this transaction.

answer:
safety expenditure           350000
transportation expenditure   100000
sanitation expenditure       200000
welfare expenditure          100000
         cash                         750000
2.l. The category of expenditures called other was made.

fund ?


Make the journal entry.
answer:
general fund
other expenditure             13500
         cash                          13500
2.m and n.The transfer was made to the pension fund -- 9500 2.m.Record the transaction for both ledgers, general and pension.


general fund
Jounral entry?

answer:
transfer to pension fund       9500
         cash                           9500
The transfer is often called operating transfer and sometimes journalized as other financinng sources (uses) -- operating transfer.


2.n. pension fund
Jounral entry?

answer:
cash                           9500
         transfer from general fund     9500
The transfer affect fund balance and thus when there is a transfer out it is debited to show a decrease in fund balance and when there is a transfer in, there is a credit to show an increase.

2.o and p. The transfer was made to the debt service fund -- 2000

2.o. Record the transaction for both ledgers, general and debt service. fund ?

Jounral entry?

answer:
general fund
transfer to debt service                2000
         cash                                    2000
2.p. debt service fund

Jounral entry?

answer
cash                                    2000
         transfer from general fund              2000
2.r and s. The capital project fund borrows the money for road repair -- 50000

2.r. Record all entries, including those for the capital project fund and general long term debt account group. Interest is not payable until next year so there is no need to accrue it and thus no need to journalize it.

capital project fund
What is the entry?

answer
cash                                   50000
         bond proceeds                          50000
For governmental fund bond proceeds actually increase fund balance, ie, they are consider an inflow of money to to the governmental fund. Thus, bond proceeds are a credit to indicate an increase in fund balance. The term other financing sources -- bond proceeds in sometimes used.

2.s. general long term debt account group

Journal entry?

amount to be provided                  50000
         bonds payable                          50000
Recall that account groups do not have any real assets. The amount to be provided is simply the full faith and credit of the jurisdiction. In other words, it is future taxes or borrowing that stands behind the debt (in this case bond payable) to be paid.

2.t and u.The capital project expends the money for the road repair.

2.t. Record all entries, capital project and general fixed asset account group.

fund ?
road repair expenditure                50000
         cash                                ?

answer:
road improvement expenditures          50000
         cash                                   50000
In governmental funds, the entire capital amount is considered expended when paid. Governmental funds do not depreciate capital or major fixed assets.

2.u. general fixed asset account group

?                                   ?
         ?                                   ?

answer:
road improvements            50,000
         Investment from capital project fund 50,000
The asset that was paid for by the capital project fund is recorded in the general fixed asset account group. The asset is debited and the source is given as a credit.

Return to Question 2

Answers to question 3

What would the closing entries be for the general fund and only the general fund? Ignore closing entries for all other funds.


answer:
close the budget entries

appropriations - general govt         190000
appropriations - safety               350000
appropriations - transport            100000
appropriations - sanitation           200000
appropriations - welfare              100000
appropriations - recreation            75000
appropriations - other                 13500
transfer out - pension                  9500
transfer out - debt service             2000
budget fund balance                     4500
         estimated revenues - taxes           1000000
         estimated revenues - permits            2000
         estimated revenues - intergovt         40000
         estimated revenues - fees               2000
         estimated revenues - fines               500

close the actual revenue, expenditures,
and other sources and uses

revenue - taxes             1000000
revenue - permits              2000
revenue - intergovt           40000
revenue - fees                 2000
revenue - fines                 500
         expenditures - general govt  190000
         expenditures - safety        350000
         expenditures - transport     100000
         expenditures - sanitation    200000
         expenditures - welfare       100000
         expenditures - recreation     75000
         expenditures - other          13500
         transfer to pension            9500
         transfer to debt service       2000
         fund balance                   4500
Return to question three

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