Fund Balance – Fund Balance included in the Current Fund represent the amount available for anticipation as revenue in future year's budgets, with certain restrictions.

Revenues – are recorded when received in cash except for certain amounts, which are due from other governmental units. Revenue from Federal and State grants are realized when anticipated as such in the Township’s budget. Receivables for property taxes are recorded with offsetting reserves on the statement of assets, liabilities, reserves and fund balance of the Township’s Current Fund; accordingly, such amounts are not recorded as revenue until collected. Other amounts that are due the Township, which are susceptible to accrual are also recorded as receivables with offsetting reserves and recorded as revenues when received.

Property Tax Revenues – are collected in quarterly installments due February 1, May 1, August 1 and November 1. The amount of tax levied includes not only the amount required in support of the Township’s annual budget, but also the amounts required in support of the budgets of the County of Ocean and the Township of Jackson School District. Unpaid property taxes are subject to tax sale in accordance with statutes.

County Taxes – The municipality is responsible for levying, collecting and remitting County taxes for the County of Ocean. Operations is charged for the amount due the County for the year, based upon the ratables required to be certified to the County Board of Taxation by January 10th of the current year. In addition, operations is charged for the County share of Added and Omitted Taxes certified to the County Board of Taxation by October 10th of the current year and due to be paid to the County by February 15th of the following year.

School Taxes – The municipality is responsible for levying, collecting and remitting school taxes for the Township of Jackson School District. Operations are charged for the full amount required to be raised from taxation to operate the local school district July 1 to June 30.

Deferred School Taxes – School taxes raised in advance in the Current Fund for a school fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) which remain unpaid at December 31 of the calendar year levied may be deferred to fund balance to the extent of not more than 50% of the annual levy providing no requisition has been made by the school district for such amount.

Reserve for Uncollected Taxes – The inclusion of the “Reserve for Uncollected Taxes” appropriation in the Township’s annual budget protects the Township from taxes not paid currently. The Reserve, the minimum amount of which is determined on the percentage of collections experienced in the immediate preceding year, with certain exceptions, is required to provide assurance that cash collected in the current year will provide sufficient cash flow to meet expected obligations.

Expenditures – are recorded on the “budgetary” basis of accounting. Generally, expenditures are recorded when an amount is encumbered through the issuance of a numerically controlled purchase order or when a contract is executed as required by Technical Accounting Directive No. 85-1. When an expenditure is paid, the amount encumbered is simultaneously liquidated in its original amount. Encumbrances are offset by an account entitled to reserve for encumbrances. The reserve is classified as a cash liability under New Jersey municipal accounting. At December 31, this reserve represents the portion of appropriation reserves that has been encumbered and is subject to the same statutory provisions as appropriation reserves. Appropriations for interest payments on outstanding general capital bonds and notes are provided on the cash basis.

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