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_Pz.Y^+t'f+.m.€. ' 1""o,Y?._ w4,,;,�,,,z C s rs{:.t< fi ,r Y�. 33`"�`g•`kha- '� <br /> �e I)�� <br /> 11 <br /> Fund Balance Policies•73 <br /> • I <br /> Exhibit 5-1 • Graphical Representation of Fund Balance s <br /> Reserved for long-term loans receivable <br /> Reserved Reserved for debt service <br /> Fund <br /> Balance Reserved for inventory <br /> Fund Reserved for encumbrances <br /> Balance <br /> Undesignated <br /> Unreserved <br /> Fund <br /> Balance Designated for contingencies <br /> Designated for appropriations in future years <br /> Undesignated, unreserved fund balance is available for spending <br /> and has not been earmarked by management. As such, undesignated, <br /> unreserved fund balance represents a crucial indicator of a govern- <br /> ment's financial flexibility to deal with funding emergencies. See Ex- <br /> hibit 5.1 for a graphical depiction of fund balance categories and a list of <br /> typical fund balance accounts. <br /> IMAJOR REASONS FOR ADOPTING A FUND BALANCE <br /> POLICY <br /> • <br /> An often-cited reason for adopting and maintaining a fund balance pol- <br /> icy is to plan for contingencies (i.e.,future emergencies). In fact, some- <br /> times government officials cite contingencies as the only reason to have <br /> a fund balance.Other equally valid reasons exist for keeping such poli- <br /> cies. Five major purposes for a fund balance policy are cited below. <br /> Plan for Contingencies <br /> No guarantees exist that governments will always be able to match <br /> planned revenues with actual expenditures for any given fiscal year. <br /> Reliance on elastic revenue sources—such as sales and business income <br /> taxes,in particular—results in a volatile revenue structure.Isolated eco- <br /> nomic impacts in the region,such as a plant closure,can also negatively <br /> affect revenues. Finally, unexpected weather-related events (major <br /> winter storms or hurricanes,for example)can increase operating costs <br /> • <br />