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CITY OF ELK RIVER, MINNESOTA <br />NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS <br />DECEMBER 31, 2015 <br />Note 1: SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - CONTINUED <br />6. Capital Assets <br />Capital assets, which include property, plant, equipment, and infrastructure assets (e.g., roads, bridges, sidewalks, and similar <br />items), are reported in the applicable governmental or business -type activities columns in the government -wide financial <br />statements. Capital assets are defined by the government as assets with an initial, individual cost of more than $10,000 and <br />an estimated useful life in excess of two years. Such assets are recorded at historical cost or estimated historical cost if <br />purchased or constructed. The costs of normal maintenance and repairs that do not add to the value of the asset or materially <br />extend assets lives are not capitalized. Donated capital assets are recorded at estimated fair market value at the date of <br />donation. <br />With the initial capitalization of general infrastructure assets (i.e., those reported by governmental activities), the City chose <br />to include all such items regardless of their acquisition date. The City was able to obtain historical costs for the initial <br />reporting of these assets through public works project records. Major expenditures for improvements or capital asset projects <br />are capitalized as projects are constructed. Interest incurred during the construction phase of capital assets of business -type <br />activities is included as part of the capitalized value of the assets constructed, net of interest earned on the invested proceeds <br />over the same period. <br />Property, plant, and equipment of the City, as well as the component units, are depreciated using the straight line method over <br />the following estimated useful lives: <br />Asset <br />Buildings and improvements <br />Other park improvements <br />Machinery and equipment <br />Public domain infrastructure <br />System infrastructure <br />7. Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources <br />Years <br />10-40 <br />10-20 <br />3-20 <br />15-50 <br />4-50 <br />In addition to assets, the statement of financial position will sometimes report a separate section for deferred outflows of <br />resources. This separate financial statement element, deferred outflows of resources, represents a consumption of net <br />position that applies to a future period(s) and so will not be recognized as an outflow of resources (expense/expenditure) until <br />then. The City has two items that qualify for reporting in this category. A deferred charge on refunding reported in the <br />government -wide statement of net position. A deferred charge on refunding results from the difference in the carrying value <br />of refunded debt and its reacquisition price. This amount is deferred and amortized over the shorter of the life of the refunded <br />or refunding debt. Deferred pension resources are reported only in the statements of net position. This item results from <br />actuarial calculations and current year pension contributions made subsequent to the measurement date. <br />In addition to liabilities, the statement of financial position and fund financial statements will sometimes report a separate <br />section for deferred inflows of resources. This separate financial statement element, deferred inflows of resources, represents <br />an acquisition of net position that applies to a future period(s) and so will not be recognized as an inflow of resources <br />(revenue) until that time. The City has only two types of items, which arise under a modified accrual basis of accounting that <br />qualifies for reporting in this category. Accordingly, the items, state aid received for subsequent years and unavailable <br />revenue, are reported only in the governmental funds balance sheet. The governmental funds report unavailable revenues <br />from three sources: property taxes, special assessments and other. These amounts are deferred and recognized as an inflow of <br />resources in the period that the amounts become available. The state aid received for subsequent years also qualifies and is <br />presented as a deferred inflow of resources on the statement of net position. Furthermore, the City has one additional item <br />which qualifies for reporting in this category on the statements of net position. The item, deferred pension resources, is <br />reported only in the statements of net position and results from actuarial calculations involving net differences between <br />projected and actuarial earnings on plan investments and changes in proportions. <br />-56- <br />