Final answer:
Local government transactions are recorded both in fund financial statements and government-wide financial statements, with differences in accounting practices. The specifics of recording bonds, contracts, fund transfers, grant receipts, and tax levies vary between the two types of statements.
Step-by-step explanation:
Journal Entries for Government Transactions
When recording transactions for a local government, the journal entries for fund financial statements and government-wide financial statements must be differentiated. Fund financial statements focus on specific government functions and adhere to a modified accrual basis of accounting, while government-wide financial statements provide an overview of the government's overall financial position, using full accrual accounting.
Example Entries
For instance, when a government sells bonds to finance construction, the entry would increase cash and liabilities in both sets of statements, but nuances in presentation may differ. Commitments for construction contracts do not immediately affect the financial statements until the related expenses are incurred. Transfers of funds, purchase of equipment, and acquisition of supplies follow specific fund accounting rules and would be recorded differently in each set. Receiving grants, levying property taxes, and anticipating uncollectible amounts are also uniquely treated in fund versus government-wide statements.
It is important to note that while fund financial statements tend to show current financial resources, government-wide statements provide a long-term financial perspective. To exemplify, recognizing capital assets and long-term debt occurs in government-wide statements but may not be shown in fund statements. Governments must reconcile these differences to provide comprehensive financial information to stakeholders, policymakers, and the public.