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<br /> I <br /> CITY OF ARDEN HILLS, MINNESOTA .1 <br /> NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS <br /> DECEMBER31,I996 I <br />Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - CONTINUED <br /> Special Assessments I <br /> Special assessments represent the financing for public improvements paid for by benefiting property owners. <br /> These assessments are recorded as receivable upon certification to the County. Special assessments are I <br /> recognized as revenue when they are received in cash or within 60 days after year end All special assessments <br /> receivable are offset by a deferred revenue liability. <br /> Receivables and Payables I <br /> Transactions between funds that are representative of lendinglborrowing arrangements outstanding at the end of <br /> the fiscal year are referred to as either "interfund receivableslpayables" (i.e., the current portion of interfund I <br /> loans) or "advances to/from other funds" (i.e., the non-current portion of interfund loans). All other outstanding <br /> balances between funds are reported as "due to/from other funds". <br /> Inventories and Prepaid Items/Deferred Charges I <br /> The inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market on the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method. <br /> Certain payments to vendors reflect costs applicable to future accounting periods and are recorded as prepaid I <br /> items or deferred charges. <br /> ~~ . <br /> Fixed assets used in governmental fund types of the City are recorded in the general fixed assets account group I <br /> at cost or estimated historical cost if purchased or constructed. Donated fixed assets are recorded at their <br /> estimated fair value at the date of donation. Assets in the general fixed assets account group are not depreciated. I <br /> Interest incurred during construction is not capitalized on general fixed assets. <br /> Public domain (infrastructure) general fixed assets (e.g., roads, bridges, sidewalks and other assets that are <br /> immovable and of value only to the City) are not capitalized. I <br /> The cost ofnonnal maintenance and repairs that do not add to the valne of the asset or materially extend assets' <br /> lives are not included in the general fixed assets group or capitalized in the proprietary funds. <br /> Property, plant and equipment in the proprietary funds of the City are recorded at cost. Property, plant and I <br /> equipment donated to these proprietary fund type operations are recorded at their estimated fair value at the date <br /> of donation. <br /> Major outlays for capital assets and improvements are capitalized in proprietary funds as projects are I <br /> constructed. Interest incurred during the construction phase of proprietary fund fixed assets is reflected in the <br /> capitalized value of the asset constructed, net of interest earned on the invested proceeds over the same period. I <br /> Property, plant and equipment are depreciated in the proprietary funds of the City using the straight-line method <br /> over the following estimated useful lives: <br /> Estimated I <br /> Assets Useful Lives <br />Furniture and equipment 5 - 10 years I <br />Sewer and collection system 80 years <br />Water distribution system 100 years -I <br /> -12- I <br />