Notes to the Financial Statements
June 30, 2010
Note 1 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
a. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying financial statements of the State of Connecticut have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as
prescribed in pronouncements of the Governmental Accounting Standards Board,
except for the financial statements of the University of Connecticut Foundation,
Incorporated (a component unit). Those statements are prepared according to
generally accepted accounting principles as prescribed in pronouncements of the
Financial Accounting Standards Board.
b. Reporting Entity
For financial reporting purposes, the State's reporting entity includes the
"primary government" and its "component units." The primary government includes
all funds, agencies, departments, bureaus, commissions, and component units that
are considered an integral part of the State's legal entity. Component units are
legally separate organizations for which the State is financially accountable.
Financial accountability exists if (1) the State appoints a voting majority of
the organization's governing board, and (2) the State is able to impose its will
on the organization, or there is a potential for the organization to provide
specific financial benefits to, or impose specific financial burdens on the
State. The State also includes a nongovernmental nonprofit corporation as a
component unit because it would be misleading to exclude the corporation from
the reporting entity. Component units are reported in the financial statements
in a separate column (discrete presentation), or as part of the primary
government (blending presentation).
Discretely Presented Component Units
Discretely presented component units include legally separate
organizations for which the State appoints a voting majority of the
organization's governing board and is contingently liable for the organization's
debt or provides funding for the organization's programs (applies only to the
Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated and the Capital City Economic Development
Authority). In addition, a nongovernmental nonprofit corporation is included as
a discretely presented component unit because of the nature and significance of
its relationship with the State are such that it would be misleading to exclude
the corporation from the State's reporting entity. The following organizations
are reported in separate columns and rows in the government-wide financial
statements to emphasize that they are legally separate from the primary
government:
Connecticut Development Authority
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political subdivision of
the State. It was created to stimulate industrial and commercial development
within the State through its Self-Sustaining Bond, Umbrella, and Insurance
programs as well as other economic development programs.
Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political subdivision of
the State. It was created for the purpose of increasing the housing supply and
encouraging and assisting in the purchase, development, and construction of
housing for low and moderate-income families and persons throughout the State.
The Authority's fiscal year is for the period ending on December 31, 2009.
Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political subdivision of
the State. It is responsible for implementing the State Solid Waste Management
Plan by determining the location of and constructing solid waste management
projects; owning, operating, and maintaining waste management projects; or
making provisions for operation and maintenance by contracting with private
industry.
Connecticut Higher Education Supplemental Loan Authority
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political sub-division of
the State. It was created to assist students, their parents, and institutions of
higher education to finance the cost of higher education through its Bond funds.
Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political subdivision of
the State. The purpose of the Authority is to assist certain health care
institutions, institutions of higher education, and qualified for-profit and
not-for-profit institutions in the financing and refinancing of projects to be
undertaken in relation to programs for these institutions.
Connecticut Innovations, Incorporated
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political subdivision of
the State. It was established to stimulate and promote technological innovation
and application of technology within Connecticut and encourage the development
of new products, innovations, and inventions or markets in Connecticut by
providing financial and technical assistance.
Capital City Economic Development Authority
The Authority is a public instrumentality and political subdivision of
the State. It was established in 1998 to stimulate new investment in
Connecticut; to attract and service large conventions, tradeshows, exhibitions,
conferences, and local consumer shows, and events; to encourage the
diversification of the state economy; to strengthen Hartford's role as the
region's major business and industry employment center and seat of government;
to encourage residential housing development in downtown Hartford; and to
construct, operate, maintain and market a convention center project in Hartford.
University of Connecticut Foundation, Incorporated
The University of Connecticut Foundation, Incorporated is a
nongovernmental nonprofit corporation created exclusively to solicit, receive,
and administer gifts and financial resources from private sources for the
benefit of all campuses and programs of the University of Connecticut and Health
Center, a major Enterprise fund.
Financial statements for the major component units are included in the accompanying financial statements after the fund financial statements. Audited financial statements issued separately by each component unit can be obtained from their respective administrative offices.
Blended Component Units
Connecticut Lottery Corporation
The Connecticut Lottery Corporation is a legally separate organization
for which the State appoints a voting majority of the Corporation's governing
board and which provides a significant amount of revenues to the State. The
corporation is reported as part of the primary government's business-type
activities in the government-wide financial statements and as a major Enterprise
fund in the fund financial statements.
c. Government-wide and Fund Financial Statements
Government-wide Financial Statements
The Statement of Net Assets and the Statement of Activities report
information on all of the nonfiduciary activities of the primary government and
its component units. These statements distinguish between the governmental and
business-type activities of the primary government by using separate columns and
rows. Governmental activities are generally financed through taxes and
intergovernmental revenues. Business-type activities are financed in whole or in
part by fees charged to external parties. For the most part, the effect of
interfund activity has been removed from these statements.
The Statement of Net Assets presents the reporting entity's nonfiduciary assets and liabilities, with the difference reported as net assets. Net assets are reported in three categories:
The Statement of Activities demonstrates the degree to which the direct expenses of a given function or segment is offset by program revenues. Direct expenses are those that are clearly identifiable with a specific function or segment. Indirect expenses are not allocated to the various functions or segments. Program revenues include a) fees, fines, and charges paid by the recipients of goods or services offered by the functions or segments and b) grants and contributions that are restricted to meeting the operational or capital needs of a particular function or segment. Revenues that are not classified as program revenues, including all taxes, are reported as general revenues.
Fund Financial Statements
The fund financial statements provide information about the State's
funds, including its fiduciary funds and blended component units. Separate
statements for each fund category (governmental, proprietary, and fiduciary) are
presented. The emphasis of fund financial statements is on major governmental
and enterprise funds, each displayed in a separate column. All remaining
governmental and enterprise funds are aggregated and reported as nonmajor funds.
The State reports the following major governmental funds:
General Fund - This is the State's primary operating fund. It is used to account for all financial resources which are not required to be accounted in other funds and which are spent for those services normally provided by the State (e.g., health, social assistance, education, etc.).
Debt Service - This fund is used to account for the resources accumulated and payments made for principal and interest on special tax obligation bonds of the Transportation fund.
Transportation - This fund is used to account for motor fuel taxes, vehicle registration and driver license fees, and other revenue collected for the purpose of payment of transportation related bonds and budgeted appropriations of the Department of Transportation. The Department of Transportation is responsible for all aspects of the planning, development, maintenance, and improvement of transportation in the State.
Restricted Grants and Accounts - This fund is used to account for resources which are restricted by Federal and other providers to be spent for specific purposes.
The State reports the following major enterprise funds:
University of Connecticut & Health Center - This fund is used to account for the operations of the University of Connecticut a comprehensive institution of higher education, which includes the University of Connecticut Health Center and John Dempsey Hospital.
State Universities - This fund is used to account for the operations of the State University System which consists of four universities: Central, Eastern, Southern, and Western.
Bradley International Airport - This fund is used to account for the financial activities of the Bradley International Airport, which is owned and operated by the State.
Connecticut Lottery Corporation - This fund is used to account for the financial activities of the State's lottery. The Corporation was created in 1996 for the purpose of generating revenues for the State's General Fund.
Employment Security - This fund is used to account for unemployment insurance premiums from employers and the payment of unemployment benefits to eligible claimants.
Clean Water - This fund is used to account for resources used to provide loans to municipalities to finance waste water treatment facilities.
In addition, the State reports the following fund types:
Internal Service Funds - These funds account for goods and services provided to other agencies of the State on a cost-reimbursement basis. These goods and services include prisoner-built office furnishings, information services support, telecommunications, printing, and other services.
Pension (and Other Employee Benefits) Trust Funds - These funds account for resources held in trust for the members and beneficiaries of the State's defined benefit pension plans and other employee benefits plans. These plans are discussed more fully in Notes 11, 12, and 14.
Investment Trust Fund - This fund accounts for the external portion of the State's Short-Term Investment Fund, an investment pool managed by the State Treasurer.
Private-Purpose Trust Fund - This fund accounts for escheat securities held in trust for individuals by the State Treasurer.
Agency Funds - These funds account for deposits, investments,
and other assets held by the State as an agent for inmates and patients of State
institutions, insurance companies, municipalities, and private organizations.
d. Measurement Focus and Basis of Accounting
Government-wide, Proprietary, and Fiduciary Fund Financial Statements
The government-wide, proprietary, and fiduciary fund financial
statements are reported using the economic resources measurement focus and the
accrual basis of accounting. Revenues are recorded when earned and expenses are
recorded at the time the liabilities are incurred, regardless of when the
related cash flows take place. Taxes and casino gaming payments are recognized
as revenues in the period when the underlying exchange transaction has occurred.
Grants and similar items are recognized as revenues in the period when all
eligibility requirements imposed by the provider have been met.
Proprietary funds distinguish operating revenues and expenses from nonoperating items. Operating revenues and expenses generally result from providing services and producing and delivering goods in connection with a proprietary fund's principal ongoing operations. The principal operating revenues of the State's enterprise and internal service funds are charges to customers for sales and services, assessments, and intergovernmental revenues. Operating expenses for enterprise and internal service funds include salaries, wages, and administrative expenses, unemployment compensation, claims paid, and depreciation expense. All revenues and expenses not meeting this definition are reported as nonoperating revenues and expenses.
Private-sector standards of accounting and financial reporting issued prior to December 1, 1989, generally 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 Standards Board. Governments also have the option of following subsequent private-sector guidance for their business-type activities and enterprise funds, subject to the same limitation. This option is followed by the following component units of the State: the Connecticut Development Authority and the Connecticut Health and Educational Facilities Authority.
Governmental Fund Financial Statements
Governmental funds are reported using the current financial resources
measurement focus and the modified accrual basis of accounting. Under this
method, revenues are recognized when measurable and available. The State
considers all revenues reported in the governmental funds to be available if the
revenues are collected within 60 days after year-end. Sales and use taxes,
personal income taxes, public service corporation taxes, special fuel taxes,
federal grants, and casino gaming payments are considered to be susceptible to
accrual. Licenses, permits, and fees are not considered to be susceptible to
accrual and are recognized as revenues when the cash is collected. Expenditures
are recorded when the related fund liability is incurred, except for principal
and interest on general long-term debt, compensated absences, and claims and
judgments, which are recognized as expenditures to the extent they have matured.
General capital asset acquisitions are reported as expenditures in governmental
funds. Proceeds of general-long term debt and acquisitions under capital leases
are reported as other financing sources.
When both restricted and unrestricted resources are available for use, it is the State's policy to use unrestricted resources first, and then restricted resources, as they are needed.
e. Budgeting Process
By statute, the Governor must submit the State budget to the General
Assembly in February of every other year. Prior to June 30, the General Assembly
enacts the budget through the passage of appropriation acts for the next two
fiscal years and sets forth revenue estimates for the same period for the
following funds: the General Fund, the Transportation Fund, the Mashantucket
Pequot Fund, the Workers' Compensation Administration Fund, the Banking Fund,
the Consumer Counsel and Public Utility Control Fund, the Insurance Fund, the
Criminal Injuries Fund, the Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines Fund and the Regional
Market Operations Fund. Under the State Constitution, the Governor has the power
to veto any part of the itemized appropriations bill and to accept the remainder
of the bill. However, the General Assembly may separately reconsider and repass
the disapproved items by a two-thirds majority vote of both the Senate and the
House.
Budgetary control is maintained at the individual appropriation account level by agency as established in authorized appropriation bills and is reported in the Annual Report of the State Comptroller. A separate document is necessary because the level of legal control is more detailed than reflected in the CAFR. Before an agency can utilize funds appropriated for a particular purpose, such funds must be allotted for the specific purpose by the Governor and encumbered by the Comptroller upon request by the agency. Such funds can then be expended by the Treasurer only upon a warrant, draft or order of the Comptroller drawn at the request of the responsible agency. The allotment process maintains expenditure control over special revenue, enterprise, and internal service funds that are not budgeted as part of the annual appropriation act.
The Governor has the power under Connecticut statute to modify budgetary allotment requests for the administration, operation and maintenance of a budgeted agency. However, the modification cannot exceed 3 percent of the fund or 5 percent of the appropriation amount. Modifications beyond those limits, but not in excess of 5 percent of the total funds require the approval of the Finance Advisory Committee. The Finance Advisory Committee is comprised of the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Treasurer, the Comptroller, two senate members, not of the same political party, and three house members, not more than two of the same political party. Additional reductions of appropriations of more than 5 percent of the total appropriated fund can be made only with the approval of the General Assembly.
All funds, except fiduciary funds, use encumbrance accounting. Under this method of accounting, purchase orders, contracts, and other commitments for the expenditures of the fund are recorded in order to reserve that portion of the applicable appropriation. All encumbrances lapse at year-end and, generally, all appropriations lapse at year-end except for certain continuing appropriations (continuing appropriations are defined as carryforwards of spending authority from one fiscal budget into a subsequent budget). The continuing appropriations include: appropriations continued for a one-month period after year-end which are part of a program that was not renewed the succeeding year; appropriations continued the entire succeeding year, as in the case of highway and other capital construction projects; and appropriations continued for specified amounts for certain special programs. Carryforward appropriations are reported as reservations of the fund balance in the financial statements.
The budget is prepared on a "modified cash" basis of accounting under which revenues are recognized when received, except for certain taxes which are recognized when earned. Tax revenues recognized when earned include the following: sales and use, personal income, corporation, public service corporations, petroleum companies, cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, gasoline, special motor fuel, and motor carrier road. Under the modified cash basis, expenditures are recognized when paid. A comparison of actual results of operations recorded on this basis and the adopted budget is presented in the financial statements for the General and Transportation funds. During the 2010 fiscal year, the original adopted budget was adjusted by the General Assembly and the Finance Advisory Committee.
f. Assets and Liabilities
Cash and Cash Equivalents (see Note 4)
In addition to petty cash and bank accounts, this account includes cash
equivalents – short-term, highly liquid investments with original maturities of
three months or less when purchased. Cash equivalents include investments in the
Short-Term Investment Fund ("STIF") and the Tax Exempt Proceeds Fund, Inc. ("TEPF").
TEPF is a short-term, tax-exempt money market fund reported under the Investment
Company Act of 1940. Investments in STIF and TEPF are reported at the fund's
share price.
In the Statement of cash flows, certain Enterprise funds exclude from cash and cash equivalents investments in STIF reported as noncurrent or restricted assets.
Investments (see Note 4)
Investments include Equity in Combined Investment Funds and other investments.
Equity in Combined Investment Funds is reported at fair value based on the
funds' current share price. Other investments are reported at fair value, except
for the following investments which are reported at cost or amortized cost:
The fair value of other investments is determined based on quoted market prices except for:
The State invests in derivatives. These investments are held by the Combined Investment Funds and are reported at fair value in each fund's statement of net assets.
Inventories
Inventories are reported at cost. Cost is determined by the first-in first-out
(FIFO) method. Inventories in the governmental funds consist of expendable
supplies held for consumption whose cost was recorded as an expenditure at the
time the individual inventory items were purchased. Reported inventories in
these funds are offset by a fund balance reserve to indicate that they are
unavailable for appropriation.
Capital Assets and Depreciation
Capital assets, which include property, plant, equipment, and infrastructure
assets (e.g. roads, bridges, railways, and similar items), are reported in the
applicable governmental or business-type activities columns in the
government-wide financial statements. Capital assets are defined by the State as
assets with an initial individual cost of more than $1,000 and an estimated
useful life in excess of one year. Such assets are recorded at historical cost
or estimated fair market value at the date of donation.
Collections of historical documents, rare books and manuscripts, guns, paintings, and other items are not capitalized. These collections are held by the State Library for public exhibition, education, or research; and are kept protected, cared for, and preserved indefinitely. The costs of normal maintenance and repairs that do not add to the value of the asset or materially extend assets lives are also not capitalized.
Major outlays for capital assets and improvements are capitalized as projects are constructed. Interest incurred during the construction phase of capital assets of business-type activities is included as part of the capitalized value of the assets constructed.
Property, plant, and equipment of the primary government are depreciated using the straight line method over the following estimated useful lives:
Assets | Years |
---|---|
Buildings | 40 |
Improvements Other than Buildings | 10-20 |
Machinery and Equipment | 5-30 |
Infrastructure | 20-28 |
Securities Lending Transactions (see Note 4)
Assets, liabilities, income, and expenses arising from securities lending
transactions of the Combined Investment Funds are allocated ratably to the
participant funds based on their equity in the Combined Investment Funds.
Deferred Revenues
In the government-wide and fund financial statements, this liability represents
resources that have been received, but not yet earned. In the fund financial
statements, this liability also represents revenues considered measurable but
not available during the current period.
Long-term Obligations
In the government-wide and proprietary fund financial statements, long-term debt
and other long-term obligations are reported as liabilities in the applicable
governmental activities, business-type activities, or proprietary fund statement
of net assets. Bond premiums and issuance costs are deferred and amortized over
the life of the bonds using the straight line method. Bonds payable are reported
net of the applicable bond premium. Bond issuance costs are reported as deferred
charges and amortized over the term of the related debt. Other long-term
obligations include compensated absences, workers' compensation claims, capital
leases, claims and judgments, annuities payable, and the net pension and OPEB
obligations.
In the fund financial statements, governmental fund types recognize bond premiums and bond issuance costs during the current period. The face amount of debt issued is reported as other financing sources. Premiums received on debt issuances are reported as other financing sources. Issuance costs, whether or not withheld from the actual debt proceeds received, are reported as debt service expenditures.
Capital Appreciation Bonds
Capital appreciation (deep-discount) bonds issued by the State, unlike most
bonds, which pay interest semi-annually, do not pay interest until the maturity
of the bonds. An investor who purchases a capital appreciation bond at its
discounted price and holds it until maturity will receive an amount which equals
the initial price plus an amount which has accrued over the life of the bond on
a semiannual compounding basis. The net value of the bonds is accreted (the
discount reduced), based on this semiannual compounding, over the life of the
bonds. This deep-discount debt is reported in the government-wide statement of
net assets at its net or accreted value rather than at face value.
Compensated Absences
The liability for compensated absences reported in the government-wide and
proprietary fund statements consist of unpaid, accumulated vacation and sick
leave balances. The liability has been calculated using the vesting method, in
which leave amounts for both employees who currently are eligible to receive
termination payments and other employees who are expected to become eligible in
the future to receive such payments upon termination are included.
Vacation and sick policy is as follows: Employees hired on or before June 30, 1977, and managers regardless of date hired can accumulate up to a maximum of 120 vacation days. Employees hired after that date can accumulate up to a maximum of 60 days. Upon termination or death, the employee is entitled to be paid for the full amount of vacation days owed. No limit is placed on the number of sick days that an employee can accumulate. However, the employee is entitled to payment for accumulated sick time only upon retirement, or after ten years of service upon death, for an amount equal to one-fourth of his/her accrued sick leave up to a maximum payment equivalent to sixty days.
Pursuant to Special Act No. 09-06, the General Assembly enacted an Early Retirement Incentive Program in order to mitigate the deficit of the General Fund of the State. Under the provisions of this program, any employee participating in the program shall be eligible for payment of accrued sick days and for the balance of unused vacation leave in accordance with the existing rules as stated above, except for one modification. The modification provides that the balance of any compensated absences shall be paid in three equal annual installments beginning during fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.
g. Fund Balance
In the fund financial statements, governmental funds report reservations of fund
balance for amounts that are not available for appropriation or are legally
restricted by outside parties for use for a specific purpose.
h. Interest Rate Swap Agreements
The State has entered into interest rate swap agreements to modify interest
rates on outstanding debt. These agreements are considered to be derivative
instruments and are discussed in more detail in Note No. 19.
i. Interfund Activities
In the fund financial statements, interfund activities are reported as follows:
Interfund receivables/payables - The current portion of interfund loans outstanding at the end of the fiscal year is reported as due from/to other funds; the noncurrent portion as advances to/from other funds. All other outstanding balances between funds are reported as due from/to other funds. Any residual balances outstanding between the governmental activities and business-type activities are reported in the government-wide financial statements as "internal balances."
Interfund services provided and used - Sales and purchases of goods and services between funds for a price approximating their external exchange value. Interfund services provided and used are reported as revenues in seller funds and expenditures or expenses in purchaser funds. In the statement of activities, transactions between the primary government and its discretely presented component units are reported as revenues and expenses, unless they represent repayments of loans or similar activities.
Interfund transfers - Flows of assets without equivalent flows of assets in return and without a requirement for repayment. In governmental funds, transfers are reported as other financing uses in the funds making transfers and as other financing sources in the funds receiving transfers. In proprietary funds, transfers are reported after nonoperating revenues and expenses.
Interfund reimbursements - Repayments from the funds responsible for particular expenditures or expenses to the funds that initially paid for them. Reimbursements are not reported in the financial statements.
j. Food Stamps
Food stamps distributed to recipients during the year are recognized as both an
expenditure and a revenue in the governmental fund financial statements.
k. External Investment Pool
Assets and liabilities of the Short-Term Investment Fund are allocated ratably
to the External Investment Pool Fund based on its investment in the Short-Term
Investment Fund (see Note 4). Pool income is determined based on distributions
made to the pool's participants.
l. Use of Estimates
The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires
management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts
and disclosures in the financial statements. Actual results could differ from
those estimates.