02-09-09 Regular Meeting of La Porte Fiscal Affairs Committee

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CITY OF LA PORTE, TEXAS Notes to the Financial Statements September 30, 2008 1. Summary of significant accounting policies - Continued P. Lona-term ObliQations In the government-wide financial statements and proprietary fund types in the fund financial statements, long-term debt and other long-term obligations are reported as liabilities in the applicable governmental activities, business-type activities or proprietary fund type statement of net assets. Bond premiums and discounts, as well as issuance costs, are deferred and amortized over the life of the bonds using the straight-line method. Bonds payable are reported net of the applicable bond premium or discount. In the fund financial statements, governmental fund types recognize bond premiums and discounts, as well as bond issuance costs, during the current period. The face amount of debt issued is reported as other financing sources. Premiums received on debt issuances are reported as other financing sources while discounts on debt issuances are reported as other financing uses. Issuance costs, whether or not withheld from the actual debt proceeds received, are reported as debt service expenditures. Q. Reservations of Fund Balances The fund balance reserves for revenue bond retirement and construction, prepaid items, inventory and debt service are discussed in Notes 5, 1 (G), 1 (L) and 1 (C), respectively. Other reserves of funds are for the Municipal Court Building Security Fees and Municipal Court Technology Fees, park zone and confiscated funds. R. Net Assets Net assets represent the difference between assets and liabilities. Net assets invested in capital assets, net of related debt consists of capital assets, net of accumulated depreciations, reduced by the outstanding balances of any borrowing used for the acquisition, construction or improvements of those assets and adding back unspent proceeds. Net assets are reported as restricted when there are limitations imposed on their use either through the enabling legislations adopted by the city or through external restrictions imposed by creditors, grantors or laws or regulations of other governments. 2. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Investments Cash and Cash Eauivalents The City reports cash and cash equivalents in the City's statement of cash flows for Proprietary Fund Types and in all other financial statements of financial position. The City considers cash and cash equivalents to be cash on hand, demand deposits, certificates of deposit, balances in privately managed public funds investment pools and money market mutual funds. Investments Investments consist of balances in privately managed public funds investment pools, money market mutual funds and investments in United States (US) Agency securities. The City reports all investments at fair value based on quoted market prices at year-end date. The Texas Public Funds Investment Act (PFIA), as prescribed in Chapter 2256 of the Texas Government Code, regulates deposits and investment transactions of the City. In accordance with applicable statutes, the City has a depository contract with an area bank (depository) providing for interest rates to be earned on deposited funds and for banking charges the City incurs for banking services received. The City may place funds with the depository in interest and non-interest bearing accounts. Statutes and the depository contract require full security for all funds in the depository institution through federal depository insurance or a combination of federal depository insurance and acceptable collateral securities and/or an acceptable surety bond. The City requires the depository to place the collateral securities with an independent trustee institution. The depository is required to deliver the 52