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CITY OF CENTERVILLE, MINNESOTA NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 2004 Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNlFlCANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - CONTINUED Property Taxes The Council annually adopts a tax levy in December and certifies it to the County for collection in the following year. The County is responsible for collecting all property taxes for the City. These taxes attach an enforceable lien on taxable property within the City on January I and are payable by the property owners in two installments. The taxes are collected by the County Auditor and tax settlements are made to the City during January, July and December each year. Taxes payable on homestead property, as defined by Minnesota statutes, were partially reduced by a market value credit aid. The credit is paid to the City by the State of Minnesota (the State) in lieu of taxes levied against the homestead property. The State rentits this credit in two equal installments in October and December each year. Delinquent taxes receivable include the past six years' uncollected taxes. Delinquent taxes have been offset by a deferred revenue liability for delinquent taxes not received within 60 days after year end in the fund financial statements. Special Assessments Special assessments represent the fmancing for public improvements paid for by benefiting property owners. These assessments are recorded as receivables upon certification to the County. Special assessments are recognized as revenue when they are received in cash or within 60 days after year end. All special assessments receivable are offset by a deferred revenue liability in the fund financial statements. Inventories and Prepaid Items All inventories are valued at cost using the first-in/first-out (FIFO) method. Inventories of governmental funds are recorded as expenditures when consumed rather than when purchased. Certain payments to vendors reflect costs applicable to future accounting periods and are recorded as prepaid items in both government-wide and fund fmancial statements. Capital Assets Capital assets, which include property, plant, equipment and infrastructure assets (e.g., roads, bridges, sidewalks, and sintilar items) are reported in the applicable governmental or business-type activities columns in the government-wide fmancial statements. Capital assets are defined by the City as assets with an initial, individual cost of more than $5,000 (amount not rounded) and an estimated useful life in excess of three years. Such assets are recorded at historical cost or estimated historical cost if purchased or constructed. Donated capital assets are recorded at estimated fair market value at the date of donation. The costs ofnorrnal maintenance and repairs that do not add to the value of the asset or materially extend assets' lives are not capitalized. Major outlays for capital assets and improvements are capitalized as projects are constructed. 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. -21-