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NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued) <br />December 31, 1988 <br />Note 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued) <br />C. Measurement Focus <br />CITY OF RAMSEY, MINNESOTA <br />The accounting and reporting treatment applied to the assets and <br />liabilities associated with a fund are determined by its measurement <br />focus. Governmental Funds and Expendable Trust Funds are accounted <br />for on a spending or "financial flow" measurement focus. This means <br />that only current assets and current liabilities are generally <br />included on their balance sheets. Their reported fund balance is con- <br />sidered a measure of "available spendable resources." Governmental <br />Fund operating statements present increases (revenue and other <br />financing sources) and decreases (expenditures and other financing <br />uses) in net current assets. Accordingly, they are said to present a <br />summary of sources and uses of "available spendable resources" during <br />a period. <br />Fixed assets used in Governmental Fund Type operations (general fixed <br />assets) are accounted for in the General Fixed Assets Account Group <br />and are recorded therein at historical cost. Public domain <br />( "infrastructure ") general fixed assets consisting of roads, bridges, <br />curbs and gutters, streets and sidewalks, drainage systems, and <br />lighting systems are excluded from general fixed assets as such items <br />are immovable and of value only to the City. No depreciation has been <br />provided on general fixed assets. <br />Long -term liabilities expected to be financed from Governmental Funds <br />are accounted for in the General Long -Term Debt Account Group and not <br />in the Governmental Funds. <br />The General Fixed Assets and General Long -Term Debt Account Groups are <br />not funds and are concerned only with the measurement of financial <br />position. They are not involved with measurement of results of <br />operation. <br />The Proprietary Funds are accounted for on a cost of services or capi- <br />tal maintenance measurement focus. This means that all assets, <br />including fixed assets, and all liabilities, including long -term <br />liabilities, associated with the funds' activities are included on the <br />balance sheet. The Proprietary Funds operating statement presents <br />increases and decreases in net total assets. <br />Fixed assets of the Proprietary Funds are recorded therein at histori- <br />cal cost. Depreciation is charged as an expense against operations <br />and accumulated depreciation is reported on the Proprietary Funds <br />balance sheet. Depreciation has been provided over the estimated use- <br />ful lives using the straight -line method. The estimated useful lives <br />are as follows: <br />-15- <br />