Final answer:
The account that would have been debited when equipment was purchased with General Fund resources is a) Equipment. This reflects the increase in assets for the General Fund. The General Fund itself is not an account but a category including various types of accounts. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
When equipment is purchased with General Fund resources in governmental accounting, it involves two main accounts: the asset account that the equipment is recorded in, and the source of funds used for the purchase. Since the question is asking which account would have been debited, we are looking for the account that represents the increase in assets or the reduction in liabilities.
The correct choice is a) Equipment. This is because when equipment is purchased, the equipment account, an asset account, would be debited to reflect the increase in assets that the General Fund now controls. Depending on the method of payment, the cash account would be credited if the payment was made immediately, indicating a decrease in the General Fund's cash balance. If the equipment were purchased on credit, the accounts payable would be credited, signifying an increase in the General Fund's liabilities.
To clarify through an example, if the General Fund purchases $5,000 worth of equipment in cash, the journal entry would be a debit to the Equipment account for $5,000 and a credit to the Cash account for $5,000. Conversely, if the purchase was on credit, accounts payable would be credited instead of cash.
Please note that the General Fund itself is not an account which would be debited or credited; it is a category of accounts which includes assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenditures within governmental accounting.