99-a-014 - Closing of FY1999 and Opening of FY2000 (April 14, 1999) (replaces 98-a-015) (superseded by 00-a-018)

K.S.A. 75-3002 establishes the state's fiscal year as commencing on the first day of July in each year and closing on the thirtieth day of June of the succeeding year. However, to allow state agencies time to process as much old year business as possible, the old year records remain open through the second Monday of July (PPM No. 14,002) unless that date results in less than eight business days, in which case, the closing date will be set to allow eight working days to process the old year transactions. During this period the Statewide Accounting and Reporting System (STARS) processes old and new fiscal year business concurrently.

During the concurrent processing period, FY 1999 documents receive a higher processing priority than do FY 2000 documents. This, and the large volume of last minute old year business received for processing, may cause delays in the processing of FY 2000 business. There is a period (usually three or four days) after the third Monday in July in which no daily transactions are processed. During this period, total effort is directed to processing transactions necessary to complete the transition from FY 1999 to FY 2000. These delays are an inherent part of the fiscal year closing process.

Your understanding of the unique circumstances encountered during the fiscal year transition period will help to reduce the number of delays experienced during fiscal year closing. Obviously, the workload both at your agency and the Division of Accounts and Reports is greatly increased during this period; therefore, following certain guidelines will result in a smoother flow of transactions.

FY 1999 business should be processed in a timely manner both at the agency level and at the central level. This will relieve some delays caused by the multitude of last minute vouchers received by the Division of Accounts and Reports. Some degree of relief can also be realized by state agencies reviewing the May monthly reports and submitting necessary requests for corrections before June 30. This will significantly reduce the volume of last minute journal entries.

All transactions submitted during the concurrent processing period should be carefully reviewed for accurate and complete coding, authorized signature, sufficient unencumbered balances, and any potential errors that may require additional processing time. Transaction year 1999 and 2000 documents should be batched separately. During concurrent processing STARS batch sheets for FY 1999 transaction year should have a batch date of 06-30-99, an effective date of 06-30-99, and BFY of 1999. Keeping the exceptions to a minimum during this period will result in more efficient and timely processing of transactions.

During the concurrent processing period, special attention should be given by agencies to the unencumbered balances of those funds whose budget units are classified as "expenditure only". To make "carry forward" balances available as of July 1 for use by state agencies, STARS has been programmed to allow new year transactions charged to "expenditure only" accounts to edit against fund-level (both FY 1999 and FY 2000) receipts. However, during this period, FY 1999 transactions only edit against FY 1999 receipts.

During the concurrent period, those state agencies having accounts structured as "receipt and expenditure" must ensure that FY 2000 receipts are available to cover FY 2000 expenditures from budget units classified as both receipt and expenditure. The available cash in prior fiscal year receipt and expenditure budget units will not be available to fund FY 2000 expenditures until FY 1999 is closed and balances carried forward.

During the concurrent transition period, personnel at all levels are subjected to increased workloads and pressures. Errors will be resolved in the most efficient and timely manner possible. Emergency situations will be reviewed and acted upon as soon as possible. Transactions categorized as emergency payments should be batched separately and sent to the attention of Jerry Serk, Central Accounting Services Section, Division of Accounts and Reports, 900 S.W. Jackson Street, Room 351-S, Topeka, Kansas, 66612-1248.

Every effort must be made to ensure that payments of legal obligations to vendors are not delayed. With your proactive support and assistance, we look forward to a timely year-end transition.

A schedule of events concerning the closing of Fiscal Year 1999 and the opening of Fiscal Year 2000 has been prepared to identify certain functions and events of mutual interest to state agencies and the Division of Accounts and Reports. These items and dates are as follows:

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