City government officials are analyzing a complicated financial transaction. A GASB Implementation Guide seems to provide one reporting answer and a GASB Concepts Statement seems to provide a different answer. What reporting is most appropriate? The government can use either method and still be in conformity with GAAP. Government officials should follow the guidance provided by the GASB Implementation Guide. The city’s financial statements must be in conformity with the GASB Concepts Statement. The city’s accountants should seek some type of compromise that takes both of these pronouncements into consideration.

City government officials are analyzing a complicated financial transaction. A GASB Implementation Guide seems to provide one reporting answer and a GASB Concepts Statement seems to provide a different answer. What reporting is most appropriate? The government can use either method and still be in conformity with GAAP. Government officials should follow the guidance provided by the GASB Implementation Guide. The city’s financial statements must be in conformity with the GASB Concepts Statement. The city’s accountants should seek some type of compromise that takes both of these pronouncements into consideration.

Principles of Accounting Volume 2

19th Edition

ISBN:9781947172609

Author:OpenStax

Publisher:OpenStax

Chapter12: Balanced Scorecard And Other Performance Measures

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 7MC: A good performance measurement system will align the goals of management with_______. A. the goals...

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The accountants for a city government are attempting to determine the appropriate method of reporting a series of unique financial transactions. They have reviewed all of the authoritative sources of GAAP and have not located an answer. What action should they take next?
The accountants for a city are attempting to determine the proper reporting for a new transaction so that the financial statements are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. No authoritative answer can be found. What should happen next? The city will receive a qualified audit report on its financial statements. The accountants can report the transaction in the way that they believe is best. The accountants should study other nonauthoritative sources such as GASB Concepts Statements and the official standards produced by FASB. The city will separate the transaction and report it separately in such a way as to draw attention to the method of reporting that was followed.
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The City of Francois, Texas, has begun the process of producing its current comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR). Several organizations that operate within the city are related in some way to the primary government. The city’s accountant is attempting to determine how these organizations should be included in the reporting process.a. What is the major criterion for inclusion in a government’s CAFR?b. How does an activity or function qualify as a special purpose government?c. How is the legal separation of a special purpose government evaluated?d. How is the fiscal independence of a special purpose government evaluated?e. What is a component unit, and how is it normally reported on government-wide financial statements?f. How does a primary government prove that it can impose its will on a component unit?g. What is meant by the blending of a component unit?
The accountants for a city are attempting to determine the proper reporting for a new transaction so that the financial statements are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. No authoritative answer can be found. What should happen next? Choose the correct.a. The city will receive a qualified audit report on its financial statements.b. The accountants can report the transaction in the way that they believe is best.c. The accountants should study other nonauthoritative sources such as GASB Concepts Statements and the official standards produced by FASB.d. The city will separate the transaction and report it separately in such a way as to draw attention to the method of reporting that was followed.
During the long evolution of government accounting, many scholars have discussed its unique features. In the August 1989 issue of the Journal of Accountancy, R. K. Mautz described the reporting needs of governments and not-for-profit organizations (such as charities) in “Not-For-Profit Financial Reporting: Another View.”To illustrate the governmental accounting challenges, Mautz examined the method by which a city should record a newly constructed high school building. Conventional business wisdom would say that such a property is an asset owned by the government. Thus, the cost should be capitalized and then depreciated over an estimated useful life. However, in paragraph 26 of FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, an essential characteristic of an asset is “a probable future benefit . . . to contribute directly or indirectly to future net cash inflows.”Mautz reasoned that the school building cannot be considered an asset because it provides no net contribution to cash inflows. In truth, a…
IS IT AN ASSET OR A LIABILITY? During the long evolution of government accounting, many scholars have discussed its unique features. In the August 1989 issue of the Journal of Accountancy, R. K. Mautz described the reporting needs of governments and not-for-profit organizations (such as charities) in his essay “Not-For-Profit Financial Reporting: Another View.” To illustrate the governmental accounting challenges, Mautz examined the method by which a city should record a newly constructed high school building. Conventional business wisdom would say that such a property is an asset owned by the government. Thus, the cost should be capitalized and then depreciated over an estimated useful life. However, Mautz pointed to paragraph 26 of FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, which asserted that an essential characteristic of an asset is “a probable future benefit . . . to contribute directly or indirectly to future net cash inflows.” Mautz reasoned that the school building cannot be considered an…
During the long evolution of government accounting, many scholars have discussed its unique features. In the August 1989 issue of the Journal of Accountancy, R. K. Mautz described the reporting needs of governments and not-for-profit organizations (such as charities) in his essay “Not-For-Profit Financial Reporting: Another View.” To illustrate the governmental accounting challenges, Mautz examined the method by which a city should record a newly constructed high school building. Conventional business wisdom would say that such a property is an asset owned by the government. Thus, the cost should be capitalized and then depreciated over an estimated useful life. However, Mautz pointed to paragraph 26 of FASB Concepts Statement No. 6, which asserted that an essential characteristic of an asset is “a probable future benefit ... to contribute directly or indirectly to future net cash inflows.” Mautz reasoned that the school building cannot be considered an asset because it provides no…
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An unqualified opinion on the financial statements of a local government means that all statements in the comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) have been audited and conform with GAAP." Do you agree or disagree? Why? Describe the difficulty in comparing the financial performance of a not-for-profit organization to other similar organizations. What benchmarks are available to assist in this task? Describe the treatment of a not-for-profit, nongovernmental foundation that is related to a public university under GASB standards. What are the benefits to a state or local government of establishing an audit committee?