Understanding fund accounting - Governmental funds

9 important questions on Understanding fund accounting - Governmental funds




Generally accepted accounting principles permit a government to have only one general fund. What is the name of this fund?

The general fund. > Chief operating fund.




There are two acceptable accounting methods for inventories in the general fund and other governmental funds. This method records an expenditure for inventories when they are consumed. What is the name of this second method?

The consumption method.

City receives a grant to build a new recycling centre. What kind of fund is this?

Special revenue fund.
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How should bond anticipation notes be recorded?




  1. the bond anticipation notes should be considered a short-term liability and recorded in the fund that receives the proceeds from these notes (usually the capital projects fund) or,
  2. Since they are expected to be repaid using the proceeds from a long-term debt issuance, they should be treated as a long-term liability.

The second type of financing that may or may not be recorded as a liability of a governmental fund. xxx Are financial instruments that create a potential call on a government's current financial resources. What is the term for the xxx?

Demand bonds.

No. 1 Demand bonds issued by state and local governments (GASBI 1). It addresses the accounting for demand bonds that have demand provisions that are exercisable at the balance sheet date or within one year from the date of the balance sheet. Interpretation No. 1 requires that these bonds be reported as a liability of the fund, unless all of the following conditions are met:

  1. Convert a takeout agreement.
  2. The takeout agreement does not expire within one year.
  3. The takeout agreement is not cancelable by the lender or the prospective lender during that year.
  4. The other party to the takeout agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the takeout agreement.

The investment earnings, not the principal can be spent. The money can only be spent for the benefit of the government or its citizens. What sort of fund is described?

Permanent fund - Used to report resources that are legally restricted to the extent that only the earnings, and not the principal (hoofdsom), may be used for purposes that support the governments programs.

There are two types of proprietary funds (eigen fondsen):
  1. Enterprise funds.
  2. Internal service funds.
    What type of accounting do proprietary funds use? 

The accrual basis of accounting. - On the balance sheets of the proprietary funds will reflect both current and noncurrent assets and liabilities. Capital assets such as infrastructure, buildings, equipment are recorded as assets by the fund.

What are enterprise funds primarily used for?

Enterprise funds are primarily used to account for activities that are financed through user charges. - However, the total cost of the activity does not have to be paid for by the user charges.

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