CITY OF PALM DESERT, CALIFORNIA Notes to Basic Financial Statements For the Year Ended June 30, 2025
NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)
N. Compensated Absences
The City recognizes a liability for compensated absences for leave time that (1) has been earned for services previously rendered by employees, (2) accumulates and is allowed to be carried over to subsequent years, and (3) is more likely than not to be used as time off or settled (for example paid in cash to the employee or payment to an employee flex spending account) during or upon separation from employment. Based on the criteria listed, two types of leave qualify for liability recognition for compensated absences – vacation and sick leave. The liability for compensated absences is reported as incurred in the government-wide and proprietary fund financial statements. A liability for compensated absences is recorded in the governmental funds only if the liability has matured because of employee resignations or retirements. The liability for compensated absences includes salary-related benefits, where applicable.
Vacation
The City's policy permits employees to accumulate earned but unused vacation benefits, which are eligible for payment at the employee's current pay rate upon separation from employment.
Sick Leave
The City's policy permits employees to accumulate earned but unused sick leave. All sick leave lapses when employees leave the employee of the City and, upon separation from service, no monetary obligation exists. However, a liability for estimated value of sick leave that will be used by employees as time off is included in the liability for compensated absences.
O. Pensions
For purposes of measuring the net pension liability and deferred outflows/inflows of resources related to pensions, and pension expense, information about the fiduciary net position of the District's California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) plans (Plans) and additions to/deductions from the Plans' fiduciary net position have been determined on the same basis as they are reported by CalPERS. For this purpose, benefit payments (including refunds of employee contributions) are recognized when due and payable in accordance with the benefit terms. Investments are reported at fair value.
GASB Statement No. 68 requires that the reported results must pertain to liability and asset information within certain defined timeframes. For this report, the following timeframes are used.
Valuation Date June 30, 2023 Measurement Date June 30, 2024 Measurement Period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2024
P. Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB)
For purposes of measuring the total OPEB liability, deferred outflows of resources and deferred inflows of resources related to OPEB, and the OPEB expense have been determined by an independent actuary. For this purpose, benefit payments are recognized when currently due and payable in accordance with the benefit terms.
Generally accepted accounting principles require that the reported results must pertain to liability and asset information within certain defined timeframes. For this report, the following timeframes are used:
Valuation Date June 30, 2023 Measurement Date June 30, 2024 Measurement Period June 30, 2023 to June 30, 2024