***Appropriations Provided by a Continuing Resolution Guidance***

***Effective 2019***

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

****

**APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION**

**EFFECTIVE FISCAL 2020**

**PREPARED BY:**

**GENERAL LEDGER AND ADVISORY BRANCH**

**FISCAL ACCOUNTING OPERATIONS**

**BUREAU OF THE FISCAL SERVICE**

**U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY**

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

Page 3 of 49

**February 2020**

***Continuing resolutions (CRs)****are joint resolutions (passed by the House and the Senate and signed by the President) that provide continuing appropriations for part of a fiscal year (short term) or for a full fiscal year.  Continuing resolutions are enacted when Congress has not yet passed one or more appropriations bills for a fiscal year or when the President has vetoed congressionally passed appropriations bills.  Lacking appropriations, most programs can not incur new obligations.*

*Continuing Resolutions usually do not appropriate specific sums of money.  Instead the CR usually provides “formulas” for calculating the amounts available for continuing projects or activities (rate for operations).  This formula is applied by OMB in apportioning funds provided by the CR.*

*After a short-term CR is enacted into law, the Office of Management and Budget will issue a bulletin to automatically apportion funds under the CR as provided by the appropriated “rate of operations”, which is the annualized level this is available through the period covered CR.*[footnoteRef:1]*This automatic apportionment applies in most accounts, but not all.  For particular accounts, OMB may require a separate account-specific apportionment.* [1: OMB Bulletin No. 18-05 (Apportionment of the Continuing Resolution(s) for Fiscal Year 2019,) See also current OMB Circular No. A-11 Section 123, “Apportionments under a Continuing Resolution.” ] 

Warrants are not issued until Congress enacts the regular appropriation bill, unless agencies are under a long-term CR. Exceptions may be made for issuing warrants under a CR:

· If the CR covers specific mandatory federal payments, or

· When the CR covers the entire year.[footnoteRef:2] [2:  Treasury Financial Manual, Part 2, Chapter 2000, Section 2030.2] 

Although a warrant may not be issued, agencies’ Fund Balance With Treasury (FBWT) should be recorded under a CR.  The CR entitles agencies to FBWT.  SFFAS No. 7, Accounting for Revenue and Other Financing Sources and Concepts for Reconciling Budgetary and Financial Accounting, paragraph 71 states that appropriations should be recognized in capital as “unexpended appropriations” (and among assets as “funds with Treasury”) when made available for apportionment, even if a Treasury Warrant has not yet been received, or the amount has not been fully apportioned.  

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

Page 2 of 2

**February 2020**

Furthermore, until Fiscal Service processes a warrant, agencies’ FBWT will not be posted to its Central Accounting System.  The balance in this account will not match CARS.  However, agencies will post its normal receipt and disbursement activity using USSGL Account 101000, which should match the balance in CARS.  

This scenario illustrates accounting transactions and reporting requirements agencies should use to record FBWT while under a CR.  

***Current USSGL accounts:***

**Account Title:**Appropriated Dedicated Collections Receivable 

**Account Number:**139000 

**Normal Balance:**Debit 

**Definition:**The amount due from unavailable receipt account for funding provided under a continuing resolution and apportioned in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's automatic apportionment bulletin. Pursuant to a continuing resolution or enacted annual appropriation act, the account may be used while awaiting a warrant to be issued for an appropriation derived from an unavailable special or trust non-revolving receipt account by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The balance in this account will adjust to zero when the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service issues a warrant and must adjust to zero by yearend. This account does not close at yearend.

**Justification:** To separately track funds to be appropriated from an unavailable special or trust non-revolving receipt account during a continuing resolution while awaiting the issuance of the warrant by Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

**Account Title:**Other Liabilities Without Related Budgetary Obligations 

**Account Number:**299000 

**Normal Balance:**Credit 

**Definition:**Other liabilities not otherwise classified, for which there is not a related budgetary obligation. This account does not close at yearend. 

**Justification:** To separate warrant activity. 

**Account Title:**Other Liabilities – Reductions 

**Account Number:**299100 

**Normal Balance:**Credit 

**Definition:**Other liabilities of reductions where there is not a related budgetary obligation. Use while awaiting a warrant to be issued for a reduction (i.e., rescission, across-the-board reduction, and sequestration). The warrant must be issued by yearend. This account does not close at yearend. 

**Justification:** To separate warrant activity. 

****

**Account Title:**Appropriated Dedicated Collections Liability 

**Account Number:**299200 

**Normal Balance:**Debit 

**Definition:**The amount due to the expenditure treasury account symbol from unavailable receipt account for funding provided under a continuing resolution and apportioned in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's automatic apportionment bulletin. Pursuant to a continuing resolution or enacted annual appropriation act, the account may be used while awaiting a warrant to be issued for an appropriation derived from an unavailable special or trust non-revolving receipt account by the U. S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. The balance in this account will adjust to zero when the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of Fiscal Service issues a warrant and must adjust to zero by yearend. This account does not close at yearend.

**Justification:** To separately track appropriated dedicated collections during a continuing resolution or while waiting the issuance of a warrant from an unavailable special or trust non-revolving receipt account by Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service.

**Account Title:**Unexpended Appropriations While Awaiting a Warrant 

**Account Number:**309000 

**Normal Balance:**Credit 

**Definition:**The amount of new appropriations expected to be received during the fiscal year from the General Fund of the U.S. Government. This is equal to the funding provided under a continuing resolution and apportioned in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's automatic apportionment bulletin. Pursuant to a continuing resolution or enacted annual appropriation act, the account may be used while awaiting a warrant to be issued for an appropriation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service.  Special and trust funds do not use this USSGL account to record appropriations for dedicated collections. However, special and trust funds that receive appropriations from the General Fund of the U.S. Government are to use this account. The balance in this account will adjust to zero when the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service issues a warrant and must adjust to zero by yearend. This account does not close at yearend.

**Justification:** To separate appropriations while awaiting the issuance of a warrant by Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service from appropriations received

**Account Title:**Appropriations Outstanding – Warrants to be Issued 

**Account Number:**309010 

**Normal Balance:**Credit 

**Definition:**The amount recorded by the General Fund of the U.S. Government for new appropriations expected to be issued during the fiscal year. This is equal to the funding provided under a continuing resolution and apportioned in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's automatic apportionment bulletin. Pursuant to a continuing resolution or enacted annual appropriation act, the account may be used while awaiting a warrant to be issued for an appropriation by the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service. This account corresponds to the Unexpended Appropriations While Awaiting a Warrant. The balance in this account will adjust to zero when the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service issues a warrant and must adjust to zero by yearend. This account does not close at yearend. 

**Justification:** To separate appropriations while awaiting the issuance of a warrant by Treasury’s Bureau of the Fiscal Service from appropriations received.

**Account Title:**Appropriated Dedicated Collections to be Transferred In****

**Account Number:**573500 

**Normal Balance:**Credit 

**Definition:**The amount to be appropriated to the expenditure account of dedicated collections, via warrant, from an unavailable receipt account. This is equal to the funding provided under a continuing resolution and apportioned in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's automatic apportionment bulletin. Pursuant to a continuing resolution or enacted annual appropriation act, the account may be used while awaiting a warrant from the unavailable receipt account. This account may be used while waiting a warrant for reductions from the expenditure TAS to the unavailable receipt account. The balance in this account will adjust to zero when the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service issues a warrant and must adjust to zero by yearend. This account does not close at yearend.

**Justification**: To record appropriations during a continuing resolution from dedicated collections while awaiting the transfer in to be processed. 

**Account Title:** Appropriated Dedicated Collections to be Transferred Out 

**Account Number**: 573600

**Normal Balance**: Debit

**Definition:** The amount to be appropriated from an unavailable receipt account to the expenditure account of dedicated collection, via warrant. This is equal to the funding provided under a continuing resolution and apportioned in accordance with Office of Management and Budget's automatic apportionment bulletin. Pursuant to a continuing resolution or enacted annual appropriation act, the account may be used while awaiting a warrant from the unavailable receipt account. This account may be used while waiting a warrant for reductions from the expenditure TAS to the unavailable receipt account. The balance in this account will adjust to zero when the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Bureau of the Fiscal Service issues a warrant and must adjust to zero by yearend. This account does not close at yearend.

**Justification:** To record appropriations during a continuing resolution from dedicated collections while awaiting the transfer out to be processed. 

This scenario presents the first and second quarters of a fiscal year.  During the first quarter, the agency is notified that its appropriations bill has not been signed and the agency is under a continuing resolution.  In quarter two, the agency’s appropriation bill has been signed.  Two separate situations are presented in quarter two, which are as follows:

Situation 1:	General Fund Expenditure TAFS receives exact amount in the appropriation.

Situation 2:	Special Fund Expenditure TAFS receives exact amount in the appropriation. 

The following quarterly statements are presented:  SF 133, Report on Budget Execution and Budgetary Resources, Consolidated Balance Sheet, Consolidated Statement of Net Cost and Consolidated Statement of Changes in Net Position.  The statements are based on fiscal year 2020 crosswalks.

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

# 

Page 7 of 49

**February 2020**

###### QTR 1 Situation 1

# 1A & B. To record an agencies’ Fund Balance With Treasury under a continuing resolution as determined by OMB’s automatic apportionment bulletin. No warrants processed.

1A To record the Fund Balance With Treasury under a continuing resolution.

1B.	To record authority temporarily unavailable pursuant to public law.

1C.	To record budgetary authority *automatically*apportioned by OMB and available for allotment.  

****Transactions 1A, 1B, and 1C should occur simultaneously.***

2. To record allotment of authority.  

3. Purchase request for $4,000, was approved. (Commitment)

4. To record current-year undelivered orders without an advance.

5. To record the delivery of goods and accrue a liability.

6. Payment schedule certified and confirmed.

***Note, no statements are illustrated in this scenario for period 03.***

###### QTR 2 Situation 1

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

###### 

###### *The CR, passed in Quarter 1 has expired and the agency has received notification that the CR has been extended for an additional 30 days.  The amount available for obligation under the extension is $8,408.  The annualized level of the appropriation provided under the CR is unchanged.*

###### 

# 1. To record additional Fund Balance With Treasury under a continuing resolution and record authority previously temporarily unavailable as available.

2. To record budgetary authority apportioned by OMB and available for allotment. 

******

***Note, no statements are illustrated in this scenario for period 04.***

QTR 2 Period 05 (Situation 1)

***1 A & B Congress enacted the appropriation bill for $100,000 and a $1,000 reduction.***

# 1A. To record receipt of authority (warrant Not received) and record authority previously temporarily unavailable as available.

# 

# 1B. To record 1,000 permanent reduction of unexpended appropriations (warrant Not received). 

2. To record budgetary authority apportioned by OMB and available for allotment.  

3. To record allotment of authority.  

**Note, no statements are illustrated in this scenario for period 05.**

***Note, no statements are illustrated in this scenario for period 05.***

###### 

QTR 2 Period 06 (Situation 1)

# 1. To record the enactment of the appropriation via the approval and processing of the appropriation warrant by Treasury.

# 

# 2. To record a permanent reduction of unexpended appropriations via the approval and processing of a negative warrant by Treasury. 

****

****

****

****

****

**Appropriations Provided by a Continuing Resolution**

**Situation 2**

******

###### QTR 1 Situation 2

# 1A & B. To record an agencies’ Fund Balance With Treasury under a continuing resolution as determined by OMB’s automatic apportionment bulletin. No warrants processed.

1A To record the annualized amount under a continuing resolution and associated accounts receivable. 

1B. To record authority temporarily unavailable under a CR.

Transactions 1A and 1B (together), identify the amount available under a CR and should occur simultaneously.

1C.	To record budget authority *automatically*apportioned by OMB CR bulletin and available for allotment.  

******

***Note, the receipt account had a beginning balance of FBWT and Cumulative Results of Operation of $100,000. No statements are illustrated in this scenario for period 03.***

###### QTR 2 Situation 2 Period 04

***APPROPRIATIONS PROVIDED BY A CONTINUING RESOLUTION GUIDANCE***

***EFFECTIVE 2020***

###### 

###### *The CR passed in Quarter 1 has expired and the agency has received notification that the CR has been extended for an additional 30 days.  The amount available for obligation under the extension is $8,408.  The annualized level of the appropriation provided under the CR is unchanged.*

# 1. To adjust the authority temporarily unavailable and associated accounts receivable. 

***Note, the receipt account had a beginning balance of FBWT and Cumulative Results of Operation of $100,000. No statements are illustrated in this scenario for period 04.***

QTR 2 Period 06 (Situation 2)

1A & B To record enactment of the appropriation via the approval and processing of the appropriation warrant by Treasury. Note there is a 1,000 temporary reduction.

# 

# 1A. To record the enactment of the appropriation via the approval and processing of the appropriation warrant by Treasury.

# 

****

# 

1B Record the approval and processing of the appropriation warrant by Treasury.

1C To record a temporary reduction of unobligated balance derived from special fund receipts. 

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