U.S. Standard General Ledger (USSGL)

Issue Resolution Committee Meeting Minutes

December 8, 2016

LOCATION: 1722 I St. NW Washington, DC 20006, Conference Room 704 (Hamilton) 7th

floor

TIME: 9:30 am to 11:30 am

HANDOUTS:

• Summary of Changes

• USSGL Board Meeting/IRC Meeting Feedback Survey

• Deposit Funds with Investment Authority Clearing Account Guidance

• USSGL Account 415900: “Repayment of Repayable Advances”

• Part 1, Section IV, for Fiscal Year 2016:

USSGL Attributes Table

• Part 2, Section IV, for Fiscal Year 2017:

USSGL Attributes Table

• Part 1, Section V, for Fiscal Year 2016:

Statement of Budgetary Resources:

SF133 & Schedule P Report on Budget Execution and Budgetary Resources & Budget Program and 

Financing Schedule

• Part 2, Section V, for Fiscal Year 2017:

Statement of Budgetary Resources

SF133 & Schedule P Report on Budget Execution and Budgetary Resources & Budget Program and 

Financing Schedule

• Part 2, Section VI, for Fiscal Year 2017:

Reclassified Balance Sheet

• Part 2, Section VI, for Fiscal Year 2017:

Reclassified Statement of Operations and Changes in Net Position

• Part 1, Section VII, for Fiscal Year 2016:

Validations Summary

Edits Detail

• Part 2, Section VII, for Fiscal Year 2017:

Edits Detail

• Credit Reform Case Studies

Federal Credit Program Basic Accounting and Reporting Guide for Direct Loan and Loan Guarantee 

Programs without Collateral (Pre-Credit Reform)

Final Draft Guide for Basic Accounting and Reporting for Loan Guarantee Programs without 

Collateral in Federal Credit Program

• Fixed Asset in Cancelled TAS (CTAS)

• Roundtable Handout for Discussion

USSGL Account 660000 and 661000
GENERAL ITEMS:

Manager, Chris Beck (Fiscal Service) welcomed everyone to the IRC Meeting and conducted roll call. He 

introduced Regina Epperly (Fiscal Service) as a USSGLAD Accountant to the IRC Members. Chris also 

mentioned a previous email he had sent to IRC Members stating that Valeria Spinner had left Treasury and is

working for OMB. Jaime Saling (Fiscal Service) is the current acting director of USSGLAD.

AGENDA ITEMS:

Jeff Taberner (Fiscal Service) presented the “Deposit Funds with Investment Authority Clearing Account 

Guidance,” regarding nonfiduciary deposit funds. Jeff said the change would only affect agencies having 

investment and Treasury securities with non-fiduciary deposit funds. He referenced the scenario that is available on 

the USSGL Website. There was a change on page 40 of the scenario (USSGL accounts 531100, “Interest RevenueInvestments” and 531800, “Contra Revenue for Interest Revenue – Investments” were added to the journal entry.) 

Also, some of the TC Descriptions will change. Jeff instructed agencies to look over the scenario and to contact 

him if they have any questions.

Michele Crosco (Fiscal Service) presented USSGL account 415900, “Repayment of Repayable Advances.” This is 

a proposed change for FY 2017. It will appear on the May Ballot. This account was originally set up for the

Department of Labor. Michele asked for input on how to modify the account. One option is to modify the 

definition so the account can also be used by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHS). The second 

option is to change the definition to say, “Use only with Office of Management and Budget approval.” Teresa 

Tancre (OMB) stated that she would prefer option 2. 

Kent Linscott (Fiscal Service) presented changes and updates to Part 1, 2016 and Part 2, 2017, Section IV Attribute

Table. Authority Type Code Attribute Domain Value of B and Fund Type Attribute Domain Value of EP were 

added to account 439700, “Receipts and Appropriations Temporarily Precluded from Obligation” for Part 1 and Part 

2. These changes were made in Period 12, 2016. For Part 2, TAS Status Attribute Domain Value of C was added to

USSGL accounts 199500, “General Property, Plant, and Equipment Permanently Removed but Not Yet Disposed,” 

577600, “Nonbudgetary Financing Sources Transferred Out,” 719000, “Other Gains,” 729000, “Other Losses,” and 

729200, “Other Losses from Impairment of Assets.” This change was made in Period 2, 2017 in order to allow 

these accounts to be used in recording CTAS Activity. DHS needed the ability to report gain and loss activity in a 

CTAS.

Michele presented:

• Part 1, 2016 and Part 2, 2017, Sec V: Statement of Budgetary Resources. The only change was to add 

“2413” to line 2490. This was the correction of an error.

• Part 1, 2016 and Part 2, 2017, Sec V: SF133 & Schedule P Report on Budget Execution and Budgetary 

Resources & Budget Program and Financing Schedule. USSGL account 439700 was added to 

accommodate the Commodity Credit Corporation. This affected lines 1423, 5101 and 5102. On line 2170, 

Apportionment Category Attribute Domain Value of E, was added to account 490100, “Delivered Orders –

Obligations, Unpaid.” Also, B was added to USSGL account 490800, “Authority Outlayed Not Yet 

Disbursed” for Beginning/Ending Attribute Domain Value. For line 2180, Apportionment Category

Attribute Domain Value of A/B was added to USSGL account 498200, “Upward Adjustments of PriorYear Delivered Orders – Obligations, Paid.” On line 2103, USSGL account 469000, “Anticipated 

Resources – Programs Exempt from Apportionment,” was removed. This had been left on by mistake. On 
line 4143, Financing Account Code Attribute Domain Value of D/G, was added to USSGL accounts 

487200, “Downward Adjustments of Prior-Year Prepaid/Advanced Undelivered Orders – Obligations, 

Refunds Collected,” and 497200, “Downward Adjustments of Prior-Year Paid Delivered Orders –

Obligations, Refunds Collected.”

Dan Adams (Fiscal Service) presented Part 1, 2016 and Part 2, 2017: Sec VII Validations and Edits. There is a 

new validation 83 for Part 1 and Part 2. This relates to USSGL account 439700 with Authority Type Attribute 

Domain Value B and/or Fund Type Attribute Domain Value EP. Exception 110 may be used if needed. Part 2 has 

two Edit Changes. Edit 7 was added for accounts 119305, “International Monetary Fund – Letter of Credit,” and 

119306, “International Monetary Fund – Receivable/Payable Currency Valuation Adjustment.” Also, Edit 10 was 

added because of a new BETC. Both of these changes affect only Treasury. 

Jeff presented changes and updates to Part 2, 2017: Sec VI Reclassified Balance Sheet. For line 7.11, USSGL

account 240000, “Liability for Nonfiduciary Deposit Funds and Undeposited Collections,” the Fund Type Attribute 

Domain Value DF was removed with a Fed/Nonfed Attribute Domain Value of Z. This was the correction of a prior 

error. 

Tia Harley (Fiscal Service) presented changes and updates to Part 2, 2017: Sec VI Reclassified Statement of

Operations and Changes in Net Position. Account 590000, “Other Revenue,” was added to line 8.7 in order to 

report non-budgetary activity for the account. Chris stated that this was the only account and domain value 

configuration USSGLAD was aware of at yearend that was able to be submitted through GTAS and that was not 

cross walked to the reclassified statements. USSGLAD will continue to work with the GTAS Team to make sure 

there are no other accounting combinations that are not crosswalking to the reclassified statements. He also asked 

agencies to contact a USSGLAD staff member if they were aware of any accounts that were not crosswalking.

Kent presented Credit Reform Case Studies. Chris stated there are currently four studies on the USSGL Website. 

The two studies that Kent has worked on are in rough draft form. He encouraged agencies to contact Kent if they 

had any feedback. Kent stated that he has worked with the Credit Reform Working Group to go through the case 

studies on the USSGL Website. Two of the case studies have been updated to reflect current guidance. Some of 

the updates made include changing the account numbers to reflect the current six digit format, and updating account 

titles. Chris stated that USSGLAD would like to have feedback on the current two case studies by mid-January. 

The ultimate goal is to have all four case studies updated by April or May 2017. Teresa requested a meeting with 

OMB to look over changes to the case studies before anything is finalized. Chris agreed. Kent then highlighted the 

major changes on each of the case studies:

Federal Credit Program Basic Accounting and Reporting Guide for Direct Loan and Loan Guarantee 

Programs without Collateral (Pre-Credit Reform): The old USSGL account 134000, “Interest Receivable – Not 

Otherwise Classified,” has been changed to account 134100, “Interest Receivable - Loans.” This change has been 

reflected in all trial balances as well as transactions 4, 7, 12 and 13. Also, the old USSGL account 134900 has been 

changed to USSGL account 134500, “Allowance for Loss on Interest Receivable – Loans [Direct Loans].” This 

change has been reflected in all trial balances as well as transactions 7 and 13. 

Guide for Basic Accounting and Reporting for Loan Guarantee Programs without Collateral in Federal 

Credit Program: Kent stated that the use of USSGL account 412500, “Loan Modification Adjustment Transfer 

Appropriation,” in Transaction 1-12 has been questioned. He planned on inserting a footnote referencing OMB 

Circular A-11 185.7b, which should clear up any questions. Also, agencies have questioned whether activity should 

be reported as an administrative expense or an advance in Transactions 1-4 and 1-16. Kent planned on inserting a 
footnote stating that policy can differ depending on how agencies treat the loan defaults. Kent also stated USSGL 

account 579100, “Adjustment to Financing Sources – Credit Reform,” currently allows only Fed/Nonfed Attribute

Domain Values of G and Z. There have been discussions to change the Fed/Nonfed Attribute Domain Value to F. 

He asked agencies to look at this account and notify USSGLAD of any issues this may cause. The last thing Kent 

noted was that changes to SFFAS #7 may affect the Credit Reform Act and its footnotes. USSGLAD is updating the 

case studies to reflect current guidance. The case studies will be changed at a later date if the guidance changes.

Michele presented Fixed Assets in Cancelled TAS (CTAS). Michele explained there are 3 options with fixed 

assets. Option 1 is to leave the assets in the TAS if it is a no-year or current year. Option 2 is to move the assets to a

CTAS. Option 3 is to move the assets to a no-year or current year TAS. Option 2 or 3 must be completed prior to 

reporting an agency ATB to GTAS. Michele requested that agencies let USSGLAD know which option they 

currently use, what the benefits to this method were, and what the burden of switching would be. Michele stated she 

would send a survey out to agencies to gather the requested information. DFAS commented that it was burdensome 

to move the fixed assets every year. The Library of Congress stated they thought the reason for a CTAS was so that 

money did not have to be moved continually. Agencies asked whether the CTAS could stop being created blindly in

GTAS. Jamie commented she liked the idea of only creating a CTAS when it is requested. She wants to continue 

to look at this option. 

MEETING ROUNDTABLE:

Jeff discussed an N Attribute Domain Value for USSGL Accounts 660000, “Applied Overhead,” and 661000, “Cost 

Capitalization Offset.” He said an agency had contacted him about removing the N and having the Fed/Nonfed

Attribute Domain Value blank. Chris stated that, last year, all N domain values were removed from assets. This 

was the same thinking used with these accounts. Chris asked if agencies knew of any reasons the N should not be 

removed. Christina Kurtz (DOD) stated her agency wanted an F option. She asked whether in process accounts 

should go to memorandum accounts like other asset accounts. Chris asked Christina to email him her contact 

information so that they could talk more about this situation.

Michele discussed Accounting for Appropriations Due Back to the General Fund. A handful of agencies have this. 

Teresa stated this was Repayable Advances and she would like to see the language. Kirstie Pottmeyer (Fiscal 

Service) asked whether this was the same thing that Fiscal Service legal counsel had recently referred to as 

Appropriated Debt. It was concluded that the terms meant the same thing. Teresa stated that Appropriated Debt 

does not exist in her book and OMB would want to be an active player in determining how this was handled. 

Kirstie commented the budgetary side had one view on how to handle this, and the proprietary side had another 

view on how it should be handled, and that the two are not in sync. Teresa responded that the two were not in sync 

because the problem had never been brought up to OMB. Michele responded that is what we are trying to do now,

as well as give the account one title. 

Chris spoke about agencies wanting three months to implement USSGL guidance changes. This makes period 11 

the first period that OMB Circular and Treasury Chapter 4700 changes can be implemented. When data goes

against these changes so late in the year, if issues arise there is no time to make changes to the published USSGL 

guidance before yearend. These changes are made on an “ad-hoc” basis and communicated to agencies via email or 

the GTAS website. Chris asked agencies to revisit how long a period of time they want to implement the changes. 

Do agencies still want three months to implement the changes, or do they prefer to make the changes right away so 

that problems can be flushed out before yearend and published on the website? Teresa pointed out that Treasury 
Guidance is contingent on OMB Guidance. OMB Guidance has been slow to be released, and Teresa commented 

that she did not see that changing anytime soon. She felt three months to implement changes was unrealistic. Chris

also questioned how agencies wanted ad hoc changes reported to them – whether by an email, or an excel 

spreadsheet listing the changes. Teresa encouraged agencies to speak up before period 12 if they have an issue.

David Surti (DHS) stated that CARS balances kept changing very late. He asked why this was, and if it will 

happen in the future. Michele responded that he would need to provide more specific details about this so the 

problem could be looked at. David also asked whether 2108 will be replaced. Michele responded that it will be 

replaced with Edit 4. She is hoping to have a rough draft by February. 

Teresa thanked all accountants who worked with budgetary adjustments during the revision window. She then told 

Treasury that OMB had received several calls from auditors who were concerned about GTAS data. Teresa stated 

that OMB had never been called about this before. She wanted to talk with Treasury about this at a later date. 

Teresa said that Valerie will be taking over BDRs (Budget Data Requests). New BDRs will be released. 

Chris asked agencies to complete the USSGLAD Survey about improving IRC Meetings. The surveys can be 

submitted on Survey Monkey. Voting members, as well as IRC Participants, were asked to complete the survey. 

Teresa asked agencies how members distribute information from IRC Meetings back to members of their agency. 

David asked when Bulletin No. 2017-01 would be published. Chris responded that Bulletin No. 2017-01 would be 

published on the web by December 21, 2016. David then asked Teresa whether the MAX Edits Project was still 

active. Teresa explained that OMB is currently working with the GTAS Team on this project. David asked if the 

IRC Meeting Minutes could be posted to the website in a more timely fashion. Chris responded that USSGLAD 

would try to post the minutes faster; however, the timeline depends on how quickly people respond to USSGLAD 

inquiries. USSGLAD checks with people who have spoken at the IRC Meeting to ensure that the minutes say the 

correct thing. The response time of those people affects how quickly the minutes can be completed. 

Meeting Wrap-Up:

Chris concluded the meeting.

ATTENDEES:

Joe Doyle, Department of Defense

Bethany Joseph, Department of Energy

Kim Klein, Department of Energy

Michael Ward, GSA

Stuart Turner, NOAA

Teresa Tancre, OMB

Valeria Spinner, OMB

Joseph Henry, SBA
Deron Smallwood, SBA

Brian McConkey, Treasury

Alex Lopez, Veterans Affairs

Agencies via Conference Call:

Department of Commerce

Department of Homeland Security

Department of Interior

Department of State

Department of Transportation

Department of Education

Department of Health and Human Services

Federal Communications Commission

Library of Congress

Nuclear Regulatory Commission

Patent and Trademark Office

Railroad Retirement Board

Securities Exchange Commission

Social Security Administration