Unassigned Fund and Lowering Interest Cost

Instructions: Answer these two questions in a 1-2 page document.

1. A government’s unassigned fund balance in the general fund at year-end should be indicative of the amount that the government has available for appropriation in future years. Explain and provide an example to support your answer.

2. What is meant by an in-substance defeasance, and how can a government use it to lower its interest costs? How must it recognize a gain or loss on defeasance if it accounts for the debt in a proprietary fund? How do the GASB standards pertaining to in-substance defeasances differ from those of the FASB?