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CITY OF CENTERVILLE, MINNESOTA <br /> NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS <br /> DECEMBER 31, 2012 <br /> Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - CONTINUED <br /> Long -term obligations <br /> In the government -wide financial statements, and proprietary fund types in the fund financial statements, long -term debt <br /> and other long -term obligations are reported as liabilities in the applicable governmental activities, business -type <br /> activities, or proprietary fund type statement of net position. The recognition of bond premiums and discounts are <br /> delayed and amortized over the life of the bonds using the straight -line method. Bonds payable are reported net of the <br /> applicable bond premium or discount. Bond issuance costs are reported as an expense in the period incurred. <br /> In the fund financial statements, governmental fund types recognized bond premiums and discounts, as well as bond <br /> issuance costs, during the current period. The face amount of debt issued is reported as other financing sources. <br /> Premiums received on debt issuances are reported as other financing sources while discounts on debt issuances are <br /> reported as other financing uses. Issuance costs, whether or not withheld from the actual debt proceeds received, are <br /> reported as debt service expenditures. <br /> Fund balance <br /> In the fund financial statements, fund balance is divided into five classifications based primarily on the extent to which <br /> the City is bound to observe constraints imposed upon the use of resources reported in the governmental funds. These <br /> classifications are defined as follows: <br /> Nonspendable - Amounts that cannot be spent because they are not in spendable form, such as prepaid items. <br /> Restricted - Amounts related to externally imposed constraints established by creditors, grantors or contributors; or <br /> constraints imposed by state statutory provisions. <br /> Committed - Amounts constrained for specific purposes that are internally imposed by formal action (resolution) of <br /> the City Council, which is the City's highest level of decision - making authority. Committed amounts cannot be <br /> used for any other purpose unless the City Council modifies or rescinds the commitment by resolution. <br /> Assigned - Amounts constrained for specific purposes that are internally imposed. In governmental funds other than <br /> the General fund, assigned fund balance represents all remaining amounts that are not classified as nonspendable <br /> and are neither restricted nor committed. In the General fund, assigned amounts represent intended uses established <br /> by the City Council itself or by an official to which the governing body delegates the authority. The City Council <br /> has adopted a fund balance policy which delegates the authority to assign amounts for specific purposes to the <br /> Finance Director. <br /> Unassigned - The residual classification for the General fund and also negative residual amounts in other funds. <br /> The City considers restricted amounts to be spent first when both restricted and unrestricted fund balance is available. <br /> Additionally, the City would first use committed, then assigned, and lastly unassigned amounts of unrestricted fund <br /> balance when expenditures are made. <br /> The City has formally adopted a fund balance policy for the General fund. The City's policy is to maintain a minimum <br /> unassigned fund balance of 40 -50 percent of budgeted operating expenditures for cash -flow timing needs. <br /> -57- <br /> 77 <br />