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NOTE 1— SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED) H. Special Assessments Special assessments primarily represent the financing for public improvements paid for by the benefiting property owners. As previously mentioned under receivables, the City is also generally able to certify delinquent amounts to the county for collection as special assessments. Special assessments are recorded as receivables upon certification to the county. Special assessments are recognized as revenue in the year levied in the government -wide financial statements and proprietary fund financial statements. In the governmental fund financial statements, special assessments are recognized as revenue when received in cash or within 60 days after year end. Governmental fund special assessments receivable which remain unpaid on December 31 are offset by a deferred inflow of resources in the governmental fund financial statements. I. Prepaid items Certain payments to vendors reflect costs applicable to future accounting periods and are recorded as prepaid items in both government -wide and fund financial statements. In governmental funds, prepaids are recognized by the consumption method, proportionately over the periods that service is provided. J. Interfund Receivables and Payables Activity between funds that is representative of lending or borrowing arrangements is reported as either "due to/from other funds" (current portion) or "advances to/from other funds." All other outstanding balances between funds are reported as "due to/from 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." K. Pensions For purposes of measuring the net pension liability, deferred outflows/inflows of resources, and pension expense, infoiniation about the fiduciary net position of the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and additions to/deductions from the PERA's fiduciary net positions have been determined on the same basis as they are reported by the plan except that the PERA pension plans fiscal year-end is June 30. For this purpose, plan contributions are recognized as of employer payroll dates and benefit payments and refunds are recognized when due and payable in accordance with the benefit tennis. Investments are reported at fair value. The PERA has a special funding situation created by a direct aid contribution made by the state of Minnesota. The direct aid is a result of the merger of the Minneapolis Employees Retirement Fund into the PERA on January 1, 2015. L. Deferred Outflows/Inflows of Resources In addition to assets and liabilities, the Statement of Financial Position will sometimes report a separate section for deferred outflows or inflows of resources. These separate financial statement elements represent a consumption or acquisition of net position that applies to a future period(s) and so will not be recognized as an outflow of resources (expense/expenditure) or an inflow of resources (revenue) until that time. 66