Chapter 8, Problem 20EP

 Special Assessment Debt. (LO8-2) Residents of Green Acres, a gated community located in the City of Foothills, voted to form a local improvement district to fund the construction of a neighborhood park. The city agreed to administer the bonded debt; however, residents of Green Acres are solely responsible for repaying the bond issue. The following events are related to the special assessment park debt for the current fiscal year:

1. 1. On January 1, the city assessed levies totaling $5,000,000 on properties within Green Acres. The levies are payable in 10 equal annual installments due at the end of the fiscal year, beginning in the current year, with 5 percent interest due on unpaid installments.
2. 2. All assessments associated with the current year’s installment were collected by December 31, as was the interest due on the unpaid installments. A portion of assessments receivable equal to next year’s installment of $500,000 was reclassified as current.
3. 3. On December 31, the first principal payment of $500,000 was made to bondholders, as was interest on the debt.
4. 4. All additions and deductions were recorded by the custodial fund. Assume that all additions and deductions can be aggregated because resources are held less than three months.

   Required

5. a.      What type of fund should the City of Foothills use to account for the special assessment debt?
6. b.      Make journal entries for each of the foregoing events for the city.
7. c.       How would this fund be reported in the City of Foothills’ financial statements?
8. d.      How would the special assessment debt be recorded in the City of Foothills’ financial statements?