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-31- NOTE 1 – SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) In the case of the initial capitalization of general infrastructure assets (i.e., those reported by governmental activities), the City chose to include items dating back to June 30, 1980. These assets are reported at historical cost. The City estimated historical cost for the initial reporting of these assets through back trending (estimating the current replacement cost and utilizing an appropriate price -level index to deflate the cost to the acquisition year). As the City constructs or acquires additional infrastructure assets each period, they will be capitalized and reported at historical cost. Capital assets are recorded in the government-wide and proprietary fund financial statements, but are not reported in the governmental fund financial statements. Interest incurred during the construction phase of capital assets of business-type activities is included as part of the capitalized value of the assets constructed. For the year ended December 31, 2017, no interest was capitalized in connection with construction in progress. Property, plant, and equipment of the City is depreciated using the straight-line method over the following estimated useful lives: Buildings and structures 7–40 years Infrastructure and improvements 15–50 years Distribution and collection systems 15–50 years Machinery and equipment 5–15 years Office furniture and equipment 5–10 years Vehicles 7–20 years Land and construction in progress are not depreciated. N. Compensated Absences It is the City’s policy to permit employees to accumulate earned, but unused annual leave and sick pay benefits called personal time off (PTO). All PTO is accrued when incurred in the government-wide and proprietary fund financial statements. PTO is payable when used or upon termination of employment. A liability for these amounts is reported in the governmental funds only if they have matured, for example, as a result of employee resignations and retirements. A liability is recognized for that portion of accumulated PTO benefits that is vested as severance pay. PTO is payable when used and, in some cases, upon termination of employment. For regular employees, PTO is payable upon retirement or involuntary termination up to the amount accrued, not to exceed 240 hours, who have served at least 12 consecutive months prior to separation, and have given the City at least two weeks’ notice prior to the effective date of such separation. The recorded portion of PTO (compensated absences) represents the estimated amount expected, based on previous years’ history and those eligible for retirement, to be paid at separation. O. Pensions For purposes of measuring the net pension liability, deferred outflows/inflows of resources, and pension expense, information about the fiduciary net position of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and additions to/deductions from the PERA’s fiduciary net position have been determined on the same basis as they are reported by the PERA, except that the PERA’s fiscal year-end is June 30. For this purpose, plan contributions are recognized as of employer payroll paid dates and benefit payments, and refunds are recognized when due and payable in accordance with the benefit terms. Investments are reported at fair value. The PERA has a special funding situation created by a direct aid contribution made by the state of Minnesota. The direct aid is a result of the merger of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund into the PERA on January 1, 2015.