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Ending Fund Balance Definitions

This document is Attachment B to the letter of New Requirements for Reporting Fund Balance in Governmental Funds dated January 07, 2011.
9710–9719 Nonspendable Fund Balance

The portion of fund balance reflecting assets not in spendable form, either because they will never convert to cash (such as prepaid items) or must remain intact pursuant to legal or contractual requirements (such as the principal of a permanent endowment).

9711 Nonspendable Revolving Cash

The portion of fund balance reflecting the value of the revolving cash account.

9712 Nonspendable Stores

The portion of fund balance reflecting the value of stores.

9713 Nonspendable Prepaid Items

The portion of fund balance reflecting the value of prepaid items.

9719 All Other Nonspendable Assets

The portion of fund balance reflecting the value of nonspendable assets not specified above. For example, this object is used for the legal reserve required for Certificates of Participation, the long-term portion of notes receivable, or the principal of a permanent endowment.

9720 Reserve for Encumbrances (Budgetary account)

(This account is not reported to California Department of Education.) An amount set aside to provide for encumbrances. Generally, encumbrances are closed at the end of the fiscal year, and new purchase orders or contracts are opened for the subsequent year. However, an local educational agency (LEA) should disclose in a footnote to the financial statements significant encumbrances that are included in the subsequent year’s budget.

9730–9749 Restricted Fund Balance
9740 Restricted Balance

The portion of fund balance representing resources subject to externally imposed and legally enforceable constraints imposed either by external resource providers, e.g., grantors or creditors, or by law through constitutional provisions or enabling legislation. Examples include unspent balances of restricted state and federal grants, and unspent proceeds of general obligation bonds. All positive balances of standardized account code structure (SACS) restricted resources 2000 through 9999 are reported using Object 9740.

9750–9769 Committed Fund Balance

The portion of fund balance representing resources whose use is constrained by limitations self-imposed by the LEA through formal action of its highest level of decision-making authority. The constraints can be modified or removed only through the same process by which they were imposed. The action imposing the constraint must be made by the end of the reporting period. The actual amounts may be determined at a later date, prior to the issuance of the financial statements.

9750 Stabilization Arrangements

The portion of fund balance set aside pursuant to a stabilization arrangement more formal than the reserve for economic uncertainties recommended by the Criteria and Standards for fiscal solvency or other minimum fund balance policy. The level of constraint must meet the criteria to be reported as committed, and the circumstances in which the resources are used must be specific and nonroutine. The formal action imposing the constraint should identify and describe in sufficient detail the circumstances in which the amounts may be used. Minimum fund balance policies and other stabilization arrangements that do not meet the criteria to be reported as committed are reported as unassigned. Also see Object 9789, Reserve for Economic Uncertainties.

9760 Other Commitments

The portion of fund balance representing commitments other than stabilization arrangements.

9770–9788 Assigned Fund Balance

The portion of fund balance representing resources that are intended to be used for specific purposes but for which the constraints do not meet the criteria to be reported as restricted or committed. Intent may be established either by the LEA’s highest level of decision-making authority or by a designated body or official. Constraints giving rise to assigned fund balance may be imposed at any time before the financial statements are issued, and may be modified or removed by a process less formal than is required for committed fund balance. In governmental fund types other than the general fund, this is the residual fund balance classification.

9780 Other Assignments

The portion of fund balance representing assignments.

9789–9790 Unassigned Fund Balance

The portion of fund balance not classified as nonspendable, restricted, committed, or assigned.

9789 Reserve for Economic Uncertainties

The portion of unassigned fund balance set aside pursuant to a minimum fund balance policy. This amount includes the reserve recommended by the Criteria and Standards for fiscal solvency, as well as additional reserve amounts established pursuant to local policy. Object 9789 is available in Fund 01 and Fund 17.

9790 Unassigned/Unappropriated

In the general fund, residual fund balance in excess of amounts reported in the nonspendable, restricted, committed, or assigned fund balance classifications and net of Object 9789, Reserve for Economic Uncertainties.

In all governmental funds including the general fund, the excess of nonspendable, restricted, and committed fund balance over total fund balance (deficits). Assigned amounts must be reduced or eliminated if a deficit exists.

For budgetary purposes, this account represents the excess of estimated revenue and estimated other financing sources over appropriations and estimated other financing uses.

Questions:   Financial Accountability & Information Services | sacsinfo@cde.ca.gov | 916-322-1770
Last Reviewed: Tuesday, August 22, 2023
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