Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

1. Significant accounting policies

a) Principles of consolidation

The Town follows Canadian public sector accounting standards. The consolidated financial statements of the Town are prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB).

b) Reporting entity

The consolidated financial statements reflect the combined assets, liabilities, accumulated surplus, revenue and expense of all of the Town's activities and funds. The consolidated financial statements also include the Town's proportionate share of the West Shore Parks and Recreation Society (West Shore). Interfund transactions and fund balances have been eliminated on consolidation.

c) Basis of accounting

The Town follows the accrual method of accounting for revenue and expense. Revenue is normally recognized in the year in which it is earned and measurable. Expense is recognized as it is incurred and measurable as a result of receipt of goods or services and/or the creation of a legal obligation to pay. Expense paid in the current period and attributable to a future period is recorded as prepaid expense.

d) Property tax revenue

Property tax revenue is recognized at the date property tax notices are issued, based on property assessment values issued by BC Assessment for the current year and tax rates established annually by bylaw. Assessments are subject to appeal and tax adjustments are recorded when the results of appeals are known.

e) Government transfers

Government transfers are recognized as revenue in the period the transfers are authorized and any eligibility criteria have been met, except to the extent that transfer stipulations give rise to an obligation that meets the definition of a liability. Transfers are recognized as deferred revenue when transfer stipulations give rise to a liability and recognized in the Consolidated Statement of Operations as revenue as the stipulation liabilities are settled.

f) Deferred revenue

Deferred revenue includes grants, contributions and other amounts received from third parties pursuant to legislation, regulation and agreement which may only be used in certain programs, in the completion of specific work, or for the purchase of tangible capital assets. In addition, certain user charges and fees are collected for which the related services have yet to be performed. Revenue is recognized in the period when the related expenses are incurred, services performed, or the tangible capital assets are acquired.

Development cost charges are amounts which are restricted by government legislation or agreement with external parties. When qualifying expenses are incurred development cost charges are recognized as revenue in amounts which equal the associated expenses.

g) Investment income

Investment income is reported as revenue in the period earned. When required by the funding entity or related legislation, investment income earned on deferred revenue is added to the deferred revenue balance.

h) Cash equivalents

Cash equivalents are comprised primarily of Municipal Finance Authority (MFA) pooled investments including money market, intermediate and bond funds. Town funds invested with MFA are pooled with other local governments and are professionally managed and objectively benchmarked by large, secure financial services organizations.

i) Deposits

Receipts restricted by third parties are deferred and reported as deposits and are refundable under certain circumstances. Deposits that are prepayments are recognized as revenue when qualifying expenditures are incurred.

j) Employee benefits and retirement obligations

The Town and its employees make contributions to the Municipal Pension Plan. The Town’s contributions are expensed as incurred and are included within the Consolidated Statement of Operations.

Sick leave and other retirement benefits are also available to the Town’s employees. The costs of these benefits are actuarially determined based on service and best estimates of retirement ages and expected future salary and wage increases. The obligations under these benefit plans are accrued based on projected benefits as the employees render services necessary to earn the future benefits.

k) Non-financial assets

Non-financial assets are not available to discharge existing liabilities and are held for use in the provision of services. They have useful lives extending beyond the current year and are not intended for sale in the ordinary course of operations.

i) Tangible capital assets

Tangible capital assets are recorded at cost, net of disposals, write-downs and amortization. The cost of tangible capital assets includes all amounts that are directly attributable to acquisition, construction, development or betterment of the asset. The cost less residual value of the tangible capital assets, excluding land, is amortized on a straight line basis over the estimated useful life as follows:

Amortization is calculated monthly, including in the year of acquisition and disposal. Assets under construction are not amortized until the asset is available for productive use.

Tangible capital assets are written down when conditions indicate that they no longer contribute to the Town's ability to provide goods and services, or when the value of future economic benefits associated with the asset is less than the book value of the asset.

ii) Contributions of tangible capital assets

Tangible capital assets received as contributions are recorded at their fair value at the date of receipt, with the value of the contribution recorded as revenue.

iii) Works of art and cultural and historical treasures

The Town manages and controls various works of art and non-operational historical cultural assets including buildings, artifacts, paintings and sculptures located at Town sites and public display areas. These assets are not recorded as tangible capital assets and are not amortized due to the subjectivity of their value.

iv) Interest capitalization

The Town does not capitalize interest costs associated with the acquisition or construction of a tangible capital asset.

v) Leased tangible capital assets

Leases which transfer substantially all of the benefits and risks incidental to ownership of property are accounted for as leased tangible capital assets. All other leases are accounted for as operating leases and the related payments are charged to expenses as incurred.

vi) Inventory of supplies

Inventory is recorded at the lower of cost and replacement cost.

l) Use of estimates

The preparation of consolidated financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenue and expense during the period. Significant estimates include assumptions used in estimating provisions for accrued liabilities, performing calculations of employee future benefits, sick benefits liability, collectability of accounts receivable, amortization of capital assets, determination of liability for contaminated sites, deferred charges and provisions for contingencies. Actual results could differ from those estimates. Adjustments, if any, will be reflected in operations in the period of settlement.

m) Adoption of new accounting standards

On January 1, 2023, the Town adopted Canadian public sector accounting standard PS 3280 Asset Retirement Obligations. The new accounting standard addresses the reporting of legal obligations associated with the retirement of certain tangible capital assets, such as asbestos removal in retired buildings by public sector entities. The standard was adopted on the modified retrospective basis at the date of adoption. The adoption of this standard did not have an impact on the amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements.

Effective January 1, 2023, the Town adopted the Public Sector Accounting Board’s (PSAB) new recommendations for the recognition, measurement, presentation and disclosure of financial assets, financial liabilities and derivatives under Section PS 3450 Financial Instruments. The new Section is applied prospectively, and prior periods have not been restated. There was no material impact on the consolidated financial statements from the prospective application of the new accounting recommendations.