2004 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report

Home Browse Search

CITY OF SOUTH BEND NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) The park and recreation fund is used to account for the operation of the City park system. Fi- nancing is provided by a specific annual property tax levy to the extent that user fees and mis- cellaneous revenues are insufficient to provide such financing. The South Bend Building Corporation construction fund is used to account for construction and renovation financed by Mortgage Bond Issues. The primary government reports the following major proprietary funds: The water utility fund accounts for the operation of the primary government's water distribution system. The wastewater utility fund accounts for the operation of the primary government's wastewater treatment plant, pumping stations and collection systems. The Century Center fund accounts for the operation and maintenance of the City's convention center. Financing is received from various rental agreements and a subsidy from the St. Joseph County's Special Funds Board of Managers. Additionally, the primary government reports the following fund types: The internal service funds accounts for liability coverage, employee medical coverage, and cen- tral services such as fuel, vehicle repairs and various supplies provided to other departments on a cost - reimbursement basis. The pension trust funds account for the activities of the 1925 police officers' and 1937 firefighters' pension funds which accumulate resources for pension benefit payments. The private - purpose trust fund reports a trust arrangement under which principal and income benefits cemetery maintenance. Agency funds account for assets held by the primary government as an agent for employee pay- roll, pension, and payroll deductions. Private - sector standards of accounting and financial reporting issued prior to December 1, 1989, gen- erally are followed in both the government -wide and proprietary fund financial statements to the extent that those standards do not conflict with or contradict guidance of the Governmental Accounting Stan- dards Board. Governments also have the option of following subsequent private - sector guidance for their business -type activities and enterprise funds, subject to this same limitation. The primary gov- ernment has elected not to follow subsequent private - sector guidance. As a general rule, the effect of interfund activity has been eliminated from the government -wide finan- cial statements. Exceptions to this general rule are payments -in -lieu of taxes and payments of ad- ministrative costs. Elimination of these charges would distort the direct costs and program revenues reported for the various functions concerned. Amounts reported as program revenues include (1) charges to customers or applicants for goods, ser- vices or privileges provided, (2) operating grants and contributions, and (3) capital grants and contri- butions. Internally dedicated resources are reported as general revenues rather than as program revenues. Likewise, general revenues include all taxes. 30