Chapter 10

Fiduciary Funds and Permanent Funds

TRUE/FALSE (CHAPTER 10)

1. Per GASB Statement No. 34, permanent funds are classified as fiduciary funds.F

2. In accounting for permanent funds only the income can be spent; the principal must be
preserved intact.T

3. Fiduciary funds focus on current financial resources and use the full accrual basis of
accounting.F

4. Fiduciary funds are excluded from the government-wide financial statements.T

5. The concept of major versus nonmajor funds does not apply to permanent funds, as it does to
governmental and proprietary funds.F

6. Accounting for the employer’s contribution to a defined contribution pension plan is straight
forward, because the employer is obligated only to make annual contributions in the amount
specified in the plan terms.T

7. Accounting for the employer’s contribution to a defined benefit pension plan is straight
forward, because the employer is obligated only to make annual contributions in the amount
specified in the plan terms.F

8. Not-for-profits report all investment gains and losses on endowments as additions to

temporarily restricted net assets, regardless of donor-imposed restrictions. F

9. An employer may have a liability to a defined benefit pension plan other than for its annual
required contributions, depending on the future financial health of the plan.T

10. In an agency fund, assets always equal fund balances because there are no liabilities. F

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MULTIPLE CHOICE (CHAPTER 10)

1. A governmental entity receives a gift of cash and investments with a fair value of $200,000.
The donor specified that the earnings from the gift must be used to beautify city-owned parks
and the principal must be re-invested. The $200,000 gift should be accounted for in which of
the following funds?
a) General fund.
b) Private-purpose trust fund.
c) Agency fund.
d) Permanent fund.

2. In previous years, Center City had received a $400,000 gift of cash and investments. The
donor had specified that the earnings from the gift must be used to beautify city-owned parks
and the principal must be re-invested. During the current year, the earnings from this gift
were $24,000. The earnings from this gift should generally be considered revenue to which
of the following funds?
a) Special revenue fund.
b) Private-purpose trust fund.
c) Agency fund.
d) Permanent fund.

Use the following information to answer Questions #3-4

The City received $200,000 to help maintain a local art museum that is owned and operated by a
not-for-profit organization. During the year the City transferred net earnings of $20,000 to the
appropriate entity/fund.

3. The $200,000 gift would be reported in a (an):

a) Special revenue fund.
b) Private-purpose trust fund.
c) Agency fund.
d) Permanent fund.

4. The $20,000 transfer would be reported by the fund that made the transfer as a (an)
a) Transfer out.
b) Expenditure.
c) Deduction from Net Assets—Benefits.
d) Expense.

Use the following information to answer Questions #5-6.

In the current year, the City of Katerah earned $24,000 on the principal of a private-purpose trust
fund but disbursed only $20,000.

5. During the current year the private-purpose trust fund will recognize, related to earnings:
a) $24,000 revenues.
b) $20,000 revenues.
c) $24,000 addition to net assets.
d) $20,000 addition to net assets.

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6. During the current year the private-purpose trust fund will recognize, related to the cash
outflow:
a) $20,000 transfer out.
b) $20,000 expenses.
c) $24,000 deduction from net assets.
d) $20,000 deduction from net assets.

7. Which of the following activities of a governmental entity should be accounted for in a

fiduciary fund?
a) Funds received from the federal government to support public transportation activities.
b) Funds received from an individual who specified that the principal must be kept intact but
the income can be used to support families of police officers killed in the line of duty.
c) Funds received from the state government that must be used to purchase capital assets.
d) Funds received from a contractor to assist with the development of utility infrastructure.

8. What basis of accounting is used to account for transactions of a governmental private-

purpose trust fund?
a) Full accrual basis of accounting.
b) Modified accrual basis of accounting.
c) Cash basis of accounting.
d) Budgetary basis of accounting.

9. In which of the following funds would a government report depreciation expense?

a) Private-purpose trust fund.
b) Agency fund.
c) Permanent fund.
d) None of the above

10. Which of the following would NOT be accounted for in a fiduciary fund of a governmental
entity?
a) Nonexpendable resources held for the benefit of other governmental units.
b) Nonexpendable resources held for the benefit of the government holding the resources.
c) Expendable resources held for the benefit of other governmental units.
d) Funds held as an agent for other entities.

11. Permanent funds are classified as

a) Governmental funds.
b) Proprietary funds.
c) Fiduciary funds.
d) Trust funds.

12. Which of the following is NOT a fiduciary fund?

a) Pension trust fund.
b) Investment trust fund.
c) Permanent fund.
d) Private purpose trust fund.

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13. What basis of accounting is used to account for the transactions of a government’s permanent
fund?
a) Full accrual basis of accounting.
b) Modified accrual basis of accounting.
c) Cash basis of accounting.
d) Budgetary basis of accounting.

Use the following information to answer Questions #14-16

Previously a local charity received a $1 million gift, the income from which was restricted to
support activities for senior citizens. During the current year the endowment earned $70,000 of
interest revenues, of which the charity designated $50,000 to support senior citizen activities.

14. On its year-end statement of activities, the charity would report interest revenues of:
a) $0
b) $50,000
c) $70,000
d) None of the above.

15. On its year-end statement of financial position, the charity would report temporarily
restricted net assets of:
a) $70,000.
b) $ 0.
c) $50,000.
d) $1.07 million.

16. On its year-end statement of financial position, the charity would report permanently
restricted net assets of:
a) $1 million.
b) $1.07 million.
c) $1.05 million.
d) $1.02 million.

17. Cedar City has a permanent fund that reported current year investment earnings (realized and
unrealized) of $80,000. The endowment principal is $800,000 and the city council has
adopted a policy of considering only the inflation-adjusted rate of return to be available for
transfer to the recipient fund. During the current year the Council declared the inflation-
adjusted rate of return to be 8%. How much revenue would be recognized in the permanent
fund?
a) $ 0.
b) $ 64,000.
c) $ 80,000.
d) Unable to determine.

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18. During the year, a state-owned university received a $5 million gift. The donor specified that
the principal of the gift must be held intact for 3 years, but the earnings from the gift can be
used to support technology improvements in the College of Business. At the end of the 3
years, the donor together with the University President and the College Dean will decide how
the $5 million gift can be used. The University will report the gift in what type of fund?
a) Permanent fund.
b) Private-purpose trust fund.
c) Special revenue fund
c) Plant fund.

19. A wealthy citizen provided in her will for a gift of cash and other assets to the City. Her will
specified that the gift was to be kept intact and that the earnings from the gift were to be used
to support public parks. At the time of the donation, the gift had a book value in the hands of
the donor of $250,000 and a fair value of $400,000. When recording this gift the City would
credit
a) Contributions revenues $400,000.
b) Other Financing Sources—Contributions $400,000.
c) Contributions revenues $250,000.
d) Other Financing Sources—Contributions $250,000.

20. At the beginning of the year, the permanent fund of Rapid City had an investment portfolio
with a historical cost of $200,000 and a fair value of $220,000. There were no purchases or
sales of securities during the year. At year end the portfolio had a fair value of $240,000. At
the end of the year Rapid City will account for this increase in fair value in which of the
following ways?
a) Credit Investment Income, $20,000.
b) Credit Investment Income, $40,000.
c) Credit Fund Balance, $20,000.
d) No entry is made to recognize increase in fair value.

21. Several years ago, a donor gave $5 million to the City and specified that the principal was to
be kept intact but the earnings were to be used to support operations of the city parks. During
the current year, the City earned $300,000 on the gift. To what type of fund, should the City
transfer the $300,000 earnings?
a) It should not make any transfers. The $300,000 should remain in the City’s permanent
fund.
b) A special revenue fund.
c) The general fund.
d) An enterprise fund.

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22. A defined contribution pension plan is one in which the employer agrees to which of the
following?
a) The employer agrees to make payments to a specified pension plan with no guarantee of
a specific pension amount to be paid to the employee.
b) The employer agrees to make actuarially determined payments to a pension plan AND
guarantees that the employee will receive a specified pension benefit (usually determined
by length of service and salary).
c) The employer agrees to make actuarially determined payments to a pension plan that
guarantees that the employee will receive a specified pension (usually determined by
length of service and salary).
c) The employer agrees to pay specified amounts (usually determined by length of service
and salary) to the employee upon retirement.

23. Hill City Light & Water (a proprietary fund) contributes to a defined benefit plan for its
employees. During 2007, Hill City contributed $27 million to its pension plan. The City also
made an additional $3 million contribution related to 2006. The actuarially determined
contribution requirement for 2007 was $32 million. The amount of pension expense
recognized by Hill City Light & Water for 2007 should be:
a) $ 0
b) $ 27 million
c) $ 30 million
d) $ 32 million

24. During the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, the Highland City General Fund
contributed $48 million to a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. On February 27,
2007, Highland made an additional $2 million contribution related to the 2006 pension
contribution requirements. The actuarially determined contribution requirement for 2006 is
$52 million. The amount of pension expenditure recognized by Highland City General Fund
for 2006 should be:
a) $ 0
b) $ 48 million
c) $ 50 million
d) $ 52 million

25. In which of the following funds would Net Pension Obligation be most likely to appear?
a) General fund.
b) Enterprise fund.
c) Private-purpose trust fund.
d) Agency fund.

26. The Schedule of Changes in Long-Term Obligations contains an account Net Pension
Obligation. Which of the following describes the event that gave rise to this account?
a) The actual contribution by a proprietary fund was less than the actuarially required
contribution.
b) The actual contribution by a governmental fund was less than the actuarially required
contribution.
c) The actuarially computed pension liability exceeded the pension plan assets.
d) The actuarially computed pension liability exceeded pension plan assets.

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27. Required disclosure by a government General Fund related to its pension plan does NOT
include which of the following?
a) The employer’s funding policy.
b) The components of the pension cost.
c) The key assumptions used in determining the pension costs.
d) The present value of the future benefits to be paid.

28. The primary financial statements for a government-sponsored pension plan are:
a) Balance Sheet and Statement of Activities.
b) Balance Sheet, Statement of Activities, and Cash Flows Statement.
c) Statement of Fiduciary Net Assets and a Statement of Changes in Fiduciary Net Assets
d) Balance Sheet, Statement of Activities, Cash Flows Statement, and Statement of
Funding Progress.

29. Which of the following is NOT a criterion that an employer’s annual required contribution
must satisfy to be considered acceptable?
a) It must consist of the employer’s normal cost plus a provision for amortizing the plan’s
unfunded actuarially accrued liability.
b) Actual assumptions must be in accordance with standards of the Actuarial Standards
Board.
c) Actuarial value of pension plan assets must be based on market values on the financial
statement date.
d) Assumptions as to investment earnings should be based on long-term projections.

30. A plan’s unfunded actuarially accrued liability is the excess of the:

a) Actuarially determined plan cost over the actual contribution.
b) Actuarially determined plan cost over the plan assets.
c) Actuarially determined pension liability over the plan assets.
d) Actuarially determined pension liability over the total contributions

31. Citizens within a defined geographic area of Hill City created a special assessment district to
facilitate the construction of sidewalks. Hill City was responsible for overseeing the entire
construction project. Hill City issued bonds in its own name to pay the contractor for the
construction. However, Hill City was not responsible in any manner for the bonds. The
bonds were secured by the special assessments that are levied against properties within the
special assessment district. Collections of special assessments would be recorded in which
of the following funds of Hill City?
a) Special assessment fund.
b) Agency fund.
c) Special revenue fund.
d) Debt service fund.

32. The City of Highland Hills receives a federal grant to assist in nutrition programs for its
senior citizens. The City will select the contractors that will provide meals and approve the
participants in the program. The proceeds of this grant should be accounted for in which of
the following funds of the City?
a) A governmental fund.
b) An enterprise fund.
c) An agency fund.
d) A private-purpose trust fund.

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33. The City of Highland Hills receives a federal grant to assist in nutrition programs for its
senior citizens. Senior citizens whose income is below a specified amount (the amount was
specified by the Federal government) are eligible to participate in the program. Monthly
checks of $100 (this amount was specified by the Federal government) will be mailed to
eligible senior citizens. The proceeds of this grant should be accounted for in which of the
following funds of the City?
a) The general fund.
b) A special revenue fund.
c) An agency fund.
d) Private-purpose trust fund.

34. Financial assets reported by most governmental investment trust funds should be reported at
a) Cost
b) Amortized historical cost.
c) Fair value on the date of the financial statements.
d) Fair value computed by a weighted-average approach.

35. Assets reported in a government’s investment trust fund should include:

a) Only investments owned by external participants in the investment pool.
b) Investments of both the sponsoring government and of external participants in the
investment pool.
c) Investments related to the sponsoring government’s governmental funds and of external
participants in the investment pool.
d) Investments related to the sponsoring government’s other fiduciary funds and of external
participants in the investment pool.

36. Financial assets reported by 2a7-like investment pools should be reported at

a) Fair value at the date of the financial statements.
b) Amortized historical cost.
c) Fair value computed using a weighted-average approach.
d) Cost.

37. Under proposed GASB standards, accounting for other postemployment benefits (OPEB)
would
a) Continue to permit governments to fund OPEB benefits on a pay-as-you-go basis.
b) Require governments to report actuarially required contributions as OPEB expense,
regardless of whether these contributions are actually made by the government.
c) Require governments to report OPEB costs based on FASB Statement No. 106,
“Employers' Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions.”
d) Require disclosure only of estimated OPEB liabilities.

38. Liabilities reported in pension trust funds consist of

a) Liabilities accrued using the accrual basis of accounting, including the actuarial accrued
liability for the plan.
b) Liabilities accrued using the modified accrual basis of accounting, excluding the actuarial
accrued liability for the plan.
c) Liabilities accrued using the accrual basis of accounting, excluding the actuarial accrued
liability for the plan.
d) Liabilities accrued using the modified accrual basis of accounting, including the plan
benefits that will be paid with measurable and available financial resources.

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39. The following financial statements must be reported for fiduciary funds.

a) Statement of cash flows

b) Statement of changes in fiduciary net assets
c) Statement of fiduciary net assets
d) All of the above
e) b & c only

40. The fiduciary fund financial statements report contain

a) No separate statements for individual pension plans

b) A separate column for each fund type
c) Three components of net assets
d) Information by major fund

41. The liabilities relating to benefits and refunds of a Defined Benefit Pension Plan are reported
in a governmental entity’s fiduciary fund financial statements using the

Full Accrual Modified Economic Resources Current Financial

Basis Accrual Basis Measurement Focus Resources Measure-
ment Focus
a) No Yes Yes No
b) Yes No No Yes
c) No Yes No Yes
d) Yes No Yes No

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PROBLEMS (CHAPTER 10)

1. The City of Bancroft received a donation from the estate of the late Kathy Smith to be used to
support the City Public Library. The gift consisted of $200,000 cash and a portfolio of
securities with a market value of $300,000. The securities have a book value of $250,000.
The donor stipulated that the principal of the gift, including investment gains (realized and
unrealized) but excluding investment losses, must be kept intact. The income must be used to
care for and maintain the book collection at the Smith Public Library. All appropriate costs,
including investment losses, may be charged against the revenues yearly to determine the
amount available for the specified purposes. During the year, the City engaged in the
following transactions on behalf of the Library. Prepare the appropriate entries in the City’s
permanent fund.

a) Accepted the donation.

b) Received dividends and interest of $18,000.

c) Purchased securities for $200,000.

d) Sold securities that were part of the original gift (market value at date of gift $72,000;
book value in hands of donor $68,000) for $75,000.

e) Sold some of the securities that were acquired in transaction (c) for $51,000. They were
acquired at a price of $55,000.

f) The portfolio of securities at year-end had a market value of $377,000.

g) Closed the fund’s revenue and expense accounts and transferred the amount available for
expenditure to the appropriate fund. Close the transfer account.

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2. The City of Shane received a cash gift of $125,000 from a citizen who specified that the gift
must be used to support recreational activities for youth of the City. The City accounted for
this gift in the appropriate fund. During the year the City engaged in the following
activities. Prepare the appropriate journal entries. Be sure to indicate in which fund the
entries should be recorded.

a) The City accepted the donation.

b) The City engaged in a fund-raising effort to provide additional funds to support youth
recreational activities. The City raised $6,000 in pledges. The City collected $2,000 in
cash with the remaining pledges collectible shortly after the end of the year.

c) The City temporarily invested $50,000 of the gift in marketable securities.

d) The City spent $26,000 on goal posts, nets, etc., for a soccer field.

e) The City received $2,000 in dividends and interest earned on the temporary investment.

f) At year-end the temporary investments had a market value of $51,000.

g) The City closed the revenue and expense accounts.

3. Penn County provides a defined benefit pension plan for its employees. The County accounts
for the pension plan in a Pension Trust Fund in the County's basic financial statements. The
County engaged in the following transactions related to the Pension Trust Fund. Prepare all
necessary entries. Clearly indicate the fund in which the entry is being made. If no entry is
needed, please write "No Entry Required."

a) In Year 1, the Pension Trust Fund sent billings to the General Fund and the City Utility
Enterprise Fund for the actuarially determined amount of required contributions. The
General Fund was billed $200,000 but paid only $150,000 during the year. The
Enterprise Fund was billed $300,000 and paid $350,000.

b) In Year 2, the Pension Trust Fund sent billings to the General Fund and the City Utility
Fund for the actuarially determined amount of required contributions. The General Fund
was billed $210,000 and paid the entire amount plus $20,000 on last year's
underpayment. The Enterprise Fund was billed $320,000 and paid only $250,000.

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4. State University maintains accounts for each of its student groups. The monies collected by
the Accounting Fraternity are deposited with the University. As the Fraternity authorizes
disbursements of its funds, the University disburses the monies. During the year, the
Fraternity engaged in the following transactions. Prepare the appropriate entries on the books
of the University. Be sure to indicate in which fund the entries would be recorded.

a) The Fraternity deposited $400 in student dues.

b) The Fraternity authorized payment to Delta Airlines for an airline ticket for a member to
fly to the National meeting, $350, and to the National Accounting Fraternity, $100 for
registration.

c) The Fraternity received a contribution from a major accounting firm to be used by the
Fraternity to offset the cost of attending the national meeting, $500.

d) The Fraternity operated a book exchange on a consignment basis and collected revenues
of $10,000. It authorized the University to write $9,000 of checks to the students whose
books they had sold. The Fraternity was pleased with the $1,000 profit.

e) The Fraternity received a reimbursement from their National Office to offset their costs
of attending the National meeting, $150.

5. At the end of 2004, The Learning Tree, a not-for-profit organization, received a $5 million
contribution (fair value), consisting entirely of investment securities. The contribution is
required to be used to establish a permanent endowment, the income from which must be
used exclusively to provide free “chapter books” to elementary school children. The
endowment specifies that both realized and unrealized gains may be used for this purpose in
addition to investment income. Learning Tree follows FASB not-for-profit accounting.

At the start of 2005, The Learning Tree had $600,000 in unrestricted net assets.

During 2005, the endowment earns $100,000 in dividends and interest. The Learning Tree
spends the entire amount on books and distribution costs. At year-end, the value of the
endowment portfolio is $5.5 million.

During 2006, the endowment earns $100,000 in dividends and interest. The entire amount is
spent on books. At year-end, the fair value of the endowment portfolio has decreased by
$1 million to $4.5 million.

During 2007, the endowment earns $100,000 in dividends and interest. The entire amount is
spent on books. At year-end, the fair value of the endowment portfolio has gone back up
by $0.4 million to $4.9 million.

REQUIRED:

a) Assuming no other transactions, prepare a schedule showing the balances in unrestricted,

temporarily restricted, and permanently restricted net assets for the years ending in 2005,
2006, and 2007.
b) What effect would there be on these three balances of net assets if the donor specified
that all gains (realized and unrealized) must be reinvested?

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6. The City of Chessie provides a defined benefit pension plan for its full-time employees. The
City includes the plan as a pension trust fund in its fund financial statements.
REQUIRED: Using the information below, prepare a Statement of Plan Net Assets and a
Statement of Changes in Plan Net Assets for the Chessie Pension Trust Fund.

Cash at year-end $1.5 million

Investments at year-end $3.5 million
Actuarial value of plan assets at year-end $20.95 million
Accounts payable $0.04 million
Actuarial accrued liability $29.9 million
Refunds payable $0.09 million
Employer contributions $1.2 million
Employee contributions $0.4 million
Investment earnings $3.2 million
Benefits paid $0.8 million
Administrative expenses $0.5 million
Net assets held for pension benefits at beginning of year $21.37 million

7. The Statement of Plan Net Assets for a school district's pension fund shows the following (in
condensed form and in thousands)

Assets
Cash and short-term investments $ 66,129
Receivables 49,946
Investments at fair value 3,565,931
Total assets $3,682,006

Liabilities
Amount payable to current employees
and retirees $ 4,212

Net assets $3,677,794

A. The plan has been in operation for over 20 years and covers all school district employees.
What is the most reasonable explanation as to why the amount payable to current
employees and retirees is so small relative to plan assets?

B. Suppose that in the current year the school district’s annual required contribution was
$6,300,000. However, the district budgeted, and paid, into the pension fund only $5,000,000.
Prepare the appropriate journal entries that the district (not the plan) should make to record
the year's pension activity. You need not make budgetary or closing entries. The plan is
accounted for in a governmental fund.

C. The annual report of district indicated that its "normal cost" was $530,000 and that the
"amortization of unfunded actuarial accrued liability" was $100,000."

1. What is meant by "normal cost?"

2. What is meant by "unfunded actuarial accrued liability"? What are its main
components? Why must it be amortized?

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ESSAY QUESTIONS (CHAPTER 10)

1. Current GASB standards for Public Employer Pension Plans require that the primary
financial statements, a Statement of Fiduciary Net Assets and a Statement of Changes in
Fiduciary Net Assets, report only on net plan assets, excluding actuarially determined
benefits to current and future retirees. Do you think the requirements are appropriate? Why
or why not? If you do not believe they are appropriate what reporting standards would you
prefer? How do you think stewardship and accountability are enhanced by the GASB
reporting requirements?

2. A donor gives your City $100,000 to be used to support youth recreational programs. In what
type of fund should this gift be accounted for? How or why did you select this fund? What
other funds could be used to account for this gift? What are the criteria required to determine
which type of fund is the most suitable for reporting this type of gift?

3. Agency funds are excluded from the face of the government-wide financial statements for
governmental entities. What are agency funds? Should they be presented in the government-
wide statements? Could, or should, they be presented elsewhere?

4. Governments report four types of fiduciary funds—pension (and other employee benefit)
trusts, private-purpose trusts, investment trusts, and agency funds. What is the purpose of
investment trust funds? What is the nature of the assets and liabilities that they report?

5. You are asked by a wealthy businesswoman to help construct a permanent endowment for a
local university. She asks you whether you believe the university should be required to add
investment gains to the principal of the endowment. Or, she asks, would it be preferable for
gains to be available for spending? How would you respond, and why?

840908685.doc Page 14
ANSWERS TO TRUE/FALSE (CHAPTER 10)

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. False
8. False
9. True
10. False

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ANSWERS TO MULTIPLE CHOICE (CHAPTER 10)

1. D
2. D
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. D
7. B
8. A
9. A
10. B
11. A
12. C
13. B
14. C
15. A
16. A
17. C
18. A
19. A
20. A
21. B
22. A
23. D
24. C
25. B
26. B
27. D
28. C
29. C
30. C
31. B
32. A
33. C
34. C
35. A
36. B
37. B
38. C
39. E
40. B
41. D

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ANSWERS TO PROBLEMS (CHAPTER 10)

Problem 1
a) Cash $200,000
Investments $300,000
Contributions(Revenue) $500,000

b) Cash $ 18,000
Revenue $ 18,000

c) Investments $200,000
Cash $200,000

d) Cash $ 75,000
Gain (not available to beneficiary) $ 3,000
Investments $ 72,000

e) Cash $ 51,000
Loss on Sale (available to beneficiary) $ 4,000
Investments $ 55,000

f) Investments $ 4,000
Unrealized Gain (not available to beneficiary) $ 4,000
[(300,000 + 200,000 – 72,000 – 55,000) – 377,000]

g) Contributions (revenue) $ 500,000

Gain/Revenue (not available to beneficiary)$ 7,000
Fund Balance $ 507,000

Revenue (available to Beneficiary) $ 18,000

Income available to Beneficiary $ 14,000
Loss (available to Beneficiary) $ 4,000

Transfer $ 14,000
Cash $ 14,000

Income available to beneficiary $ 14,000

Transfer $ 14,000

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Problem 2
These entries are recorded in a Special Revenue Fund.

[Note: Because all assets are indeed restricted by outside parties, some students might record the
assets as restricted cash and investments.]

a) Cash $125,000
Contributions (revenue) $125,000

b) Cash $ 2,000
Pledges receivable $ 4,000
Contributions (revenue) $ 6,000

c) Investments $ 50,000
Cash $ 50,000

d) Expenditures $ 26,000
Cash $ 26,000

e) Cash $ 2,000
Revenues $ 2,000

f) Investments $ 1,000
Revenues (unrealized gain) $ 1,000

g) Contribution (revenue) $131,000

Revenue $ 3,000
Fund balance $108,000
Expenditures $ 26,000

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Problem 3

a) PENSION TRUST FUND

Due from General Fund $ 200,000
Due from Enterprise Fund $ 300,000
Revenue $ 500,000

Cash $ 500,000
Due from General Fund $ 150,000
Due from Enterprise Fund $ 300,000
Transfer $ 50,000

GENERAL FUND*
Pension Expenditure $ 150,000
Cash $ 150,000

ENTERPRISE FUND
Pension Expense $ 300,000
Transfer $ 50,000
Cash $ 350,000

b) PENSION TRUST FUND

Due from General Fund $ 210,000
Due from Enterprise Fund $ 320,000
Revenue $530,000

Cash $ 480,000
Due from General Fund $ 230,000
Due from Enterprise Fund $ 250,000

GENERAL FUND
Pension expenditure $ 230,000
Cash $ 230,000

ENTERPRISE FUND
Pension Expense $ 320,000
Due to Pension Trust Fund $ 320,000

Due to Pension Trust Fund $ 250,000

Cash $ 250,000

*[Note: Students may record a due to Pension Trust Fund here. In the case of pension
contributions, however, GAAP require the Pension Trust Fund to adjust its receivable and
contribution revenue to the amount that will actually be paid by the governmental fund
(GASB Comprehensive Implementation Guide—2003, Question 5.55). In this way, the
governmental fund does not report a fund liability and expenditure for unpaid pension
contributions—that is, a “due to pension trust fund.”]

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Problem 4
All journal entries are recorded in an agency fund.

a) Cash $ 400
Due to Fraternity $ 400

b) Due to Fraternity $ 450

Cash or Accounts Payable $ 450

c) Cash $ 500
Due to Fraternity $ 500

d) Cash $ 10,000
Due to Fraternity $ 10,000

Due to Fraternity $ 9,000

Cash $ 9,000

e) Cash $ 150
Due to Fraternity $ 150

Problem 5

a)
Net Assets Related to Investments — 2005
Permanently Temporarily
Restricted Restricted Unrestricted Total

Beginning of year $5,000,000 $ 0 $600,000 $5,600,000

Interest and dividends 100,000 100,000
Distributions (100,000) (100,000)
Investment gains 500,000 0 500,000
End of year $5,000,000 $500,000 $600,000 $6,100,000

Net Assets Related to Investments — 2006

Permanently Temporarily
Restricted Restricted Unrestricted Total

Beginning of year $5,000,000 $500,000 $600,000 $6,100,000

Interest and dividends 100,000 100,000
Distributions (100,000) (100,000)
Investment losses (500,000) (500,000) (1,000,000)
End of year $5,000,000 $ 0 $100,000 $5,100,000

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 Net Assets Related to Investments — 2007
Permanently Temporarily
Restricted Restricted Unrestricted Total

Beginning of year $5,000,000 $ 0 $100,000 $5,100,000

Interest and dividends 100,000 100,000
Distributions (100,000) (100,000)
Investment gains 0 400,000 400,000
End of year $5,000,000 $0 $500,000 $5,500,000

b) The gains would be added to the principal of the endowment, but losses would be
reported first as a reduction of temporarily restricted net assets and, when temporarily restricted
net assets equaled zero, as a reduction of unrestricted net assets. The treatment of losses is the
same as above.

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Problem 6

CHESSIE CITY
CHESSIE PENSION TRUST FUND
STATEMENT OF PLAN NET ASSETS

ASSETS
Cash $ 1.50 million
Investments 23.50 million
Total assets 25.00 million

LIABILITIES
Accounts payable 0.04 million
Benefits payable 0.09 million
Total liabilities 0.13 million

NET ASSETS
Held in trust for pension benefits $24.87 million

CHESSIE CITY
CHESSIE PENSION TRUST FUND
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN PLAN NET ASSETS

ADDITIONS
Employer contributions $ 1.20 million
Employee contributions 0.40 million
Investment earnings 3.20 million
Total additions 4.80 million

DEDUCTIONS
Administrative expenses 0.50 million
Benefits paid 0.80 million
Total deductions 1.30 million
Change in net assets 3.5 million

Net assets—beginning of year 21.37 million

Net assets—end of year $24.87 million

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Problem 7

A. The statement of net plan assets reports only obligations as due. It does not report actuarial
obligations.

B. Pension expenditure $5,000,000

Cash 5,000,000

C.
1. Normal cost is the portion of the present value of pension plan benefits that is allocated to a
particular year by an actuarial cost method.

2. This is the excess of the actuarially computed pension liability over the pension plan’s assets.
It can results from (1) transition losses (2) actuarial losses (3) improvements in pension
benefits (3) special termination benefits

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ANSWERS TO ESSAY QUESTIONS (CHAPTER 10)

1. GASB reporting standards are different from FASB reporting standards for pension plans.
Governments, unlike businesses, tend to be on-going organizations that will be around to
honor their pension commitments. FASB was concerned about valuation of the liabilities
incurred in relation to pension benefits and the assets available to fund those benefits. There
are many examples of businesses liquidating and being unable or unwilling to meet their
pension obligations.

GASB determined that the main objectives of reporting for governmental pension plans
should be to provide information useful for assessing
 The stewardship of plan resources and the ongoing ability of the plan to pay
benefits.
 The effect of plan operations and benefit commitments on the contributions
required of both employers and employees.

The primary financial statements exclude actuarial liabilities and match current period
contributions received with current period benefits paid. All actuarial liabilities are presented
in supplementary schedules and notes. The information is available to those who search for
the information.

[Students will have a variety of opinions on suitability of the required reporting. They will
probably find it unsuitable because it is not like FASB.]

Stewardship and accountability are enhanced by the GASB standards only if one is concerned
with the short-term. The excess of available resources to pay required benefits is measured.
If one believes that governments have the right to tax and will, therefore, be able to raise
sufficient revenues to meet their obligations, then one can conclude that stewardship and
accountability are demonstrated through the required reporting model.

2. The gift should be reported in a special revenue fund. The problem does not state that only
the earnings can be spent, so it is not appropriate to account for this gift in a permanent fund.
A fiduciary fund should not be used because the gift is to benefit all youth in the City, not a
narrow segment of the population (for example, when contributions are received to benefit
the child of a slain police officer). Fiduciary funds are used only when the assets are held for
the benefit of individuals, private organizations or other governments.

3. Agency funds account for resources held by one entity in a capacity as an agent of another.
In a true agent relationship, the holder of the resources has no decision-making authority.
The holder of the resources is a steward and accounting for his/her stewardship should be the
primary concern. Agency funds do not carry out operations, therefore, they have no
operating accounts.

Like all other fiduciary funds, agency funds are NOT presented on the face of the
government-wide financial statements. The resources they report are not available to support
the government’s programs. By presenting separate fiduciary fund statements, the
government demonstrates its stewardship. Governments could also demonstrate stewardship
by presenting information in the notes to the financial statements.

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4. Investment trust funds are used by governments that sponsor an external investment pool as a
service to other governments within their jurisdiction. Investment pools are like mutual funds
without all the related fees. Sometimes the sponsoring government invests its own money in
the pool. However, the only assets that should be reported in an investment trust fund are the
assets held for other governments. Investment of the sponsoring government is required to be
reported in the fund that “owns” the investments in the fund financial statements as well as in
the government-wide financial statements. Liabilities reported in an investment trust fund are
amounts due to other governments.

5. By making the investment gains nonexpendable (adding them to principal), you will help
protect the endowment from inflation. Assuming that at least a portion of net investment
gains can be attributable to changes in the value of the monetary unit, the policy will help
assure that the endowment principal retains its initial earning (and hence) purchasing power.
The disadvantage of this policy, however, is that it assumes a direct relationship between the
rate of inflation and investment gains. It uses investment gains as a surrogate for inflation,
rather than taking inflation into account directly. Moreover, it may encourage the foundation,
if in need of immediate income, to adopt investment strategies that will maximize current
interest and dividends at the expense of overall return on investment.

On the other hand, if gains are available for spending, it is likely the principal of the
endowment will eventually be decreased. In fact, even if the dollar amount of an endowment
is the same as it was 20 years ago, adjusted for inflation, you can expect that it represents
much less purchasing power. Although some may argue that reinvesting investment gains is
a poor measure of inflation, it would be better than no measure at all.

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