Policy

The College has significant investment in fixed assets, such as land, buildings, infrastructure, fixed and moveable equipment, which are used to carry out the primary mission of the institution. The intent of this policy is provide for the proper accounting, effective control and disposal of all fixed assets

Reason for Policy

To ensure that the College’s fixed assets are acquired, safeguarded, controlled, disposed of and accounted for in accordance with state and federal regulations, audit requirements, and generally accepted accounting principles.

To Whom Does the Policy Apply

Business Services and Purchasing

Related Documents

Procedure

Contacts

Controller
(201) 684-7494

Categories of Fixed Assets

1. Land – Land as well as the costs incurred in preparing the land for its intended purpose. These costs include, but are not limited to, purchase costs, real estate commissions, closing costs, razing existing structures and clearing land. Excludes any land improvements. Land is not depreciated.
2. Land Improvements –Sidewalks, landscaping, lighting, fences and signage.
3. Infrastructure –Roads, parking lots, sewers, water lines and cabling.
4. Buildings – Costs associated with the purchase or construction includes all building components. If bond funding is used the bond issuance cost is included as well as any capitalized interest.
5. Building Improvements (repairs and renovations) –Improvements which extend the useful life of the building, or substantially changes the use of the original space, or the improvement expands the total space of the building. Routine repairs and maintenance are not capitalized and are charged to the operating expense in the period in which they occur.
6. Equipment – A tangible piece of personal property that has a useful life of more than one year. Costs capitalized include all costs of purchase and those costs associated with delivery, transportation, and insurance while in transit, installation costs, and other similar costs. Fixed equipment includes any equipment affixed to the building such as fume hoods, autoclaves etc. Moveable equipment includes office furniture, laundry and cafeteria equipment, vehicles, golf carts etc.
7. Software –With a useful life of greater than one year.
8. Library Collection – Periodicals, texts, journals, books of reference and other books for use in the Library.

Definition of Fixed Asset Criteria

Fixed assets are defined as items with a purchase price of $5,000 or more and a useful life of more than three years; donations with an estimated or appraised market value of $5,000 or more and a useful life of three years or more are also included. Items representing construction in progress are not recorded as a fixed asset until the construction or renovation is complete. All costs associated with the project will be capitalized, these costs include but are not limited to; architect fees, project management fees, utility usage exclusive to the project, engineering fees, surveys, permit fees, design fees, material and supplies, construction costs.

Acquisition/Addition of Fixed Assets

The college follows the same procurement policies and procedures for the purchase of equipment and other fixed assets as it does for the purchase of any other goods or services. This procedure addresses the requirements for fixed assets and does not address specific regulation related to approval and authorization of building construction or capital projects.

The Purchasing Department is responsible for recording all newly acquired equipment classified as a fixed asset into the College’s Fixed Asset System. The Purchasing Table in Banner Finance provides the information for items paid via purchase orders, which meet the $5,000 threshold and account code criteria.

The Purchasing Department will maintain a supply of fixed asset tags which are numbered consecutively. During the process of transferring requisitions to purchase orders, The Purchasing Department will assess the information on the requisition and determine if the item being ordered qualifies as a fixed asset based on the aforementioned criteria. The Purchasing Department will assign a fixed asset tag number and list the number, item location, and item purchase price on the purchase order. College staff will not be permitted to purchase fixed assets using a College procurement credit card. Nevertheless, the Purchasing Department will monitor credit card transactions and investigate any transaction that appears to involve fixed assets. Should a fixed asset be purchased with a College procurement credit card, the Purchasing Department will contact the Unit that placed the order, obtain the required information: item description, vendor, quantity, location, purchase price and charge code, and assign a fixed asset tag number. Donations and purchases made directly by the Foundation are not included.

Once a month Purchasing will check the fixed asset tagged purchase orders to confirm an invoice has been entered against the order. Only after an invoice has been entered will Purchasing enter the fixed asset into the Fixed Asset System and provide a copy of the purchase order containing the fixed asset tag number to the fixed asset accountant. Purchasing will forward the metal fixed asset tag to Central Receiving along with a copy of the purchase order. Once a month Purchasing will review procurement credit card purchases for purchases of fixed assets. Purchasing will confirm receipt of the item with the ordering Unit. Purchasing will enter the data into the Fixed Asset System, provide a copy of the data and the fixed asset tag number to the fixed asset accountant and provide a copy of the data and the metal fixed asset tag to Central Receiving.

Purchasing will enter the following information into the Fixed Asset System for each fixed asset: tag number, item description and model, date of invoice as the acquisition date, vendor, purchase order number or procurement card transaction number, quantity, purchase price, charge code, location, owner as the ordering Unit, and expected usable life.

The fixed asset accountant is responsible for recording all non-equipment related fixed assets into the fixed asset system. The accountant reviews specific areas of the general ledger relating to capital projects and large expenditures in specific account codes for potential capital purchases. Each item is analyzed to determine if it meets the capitalization guidelines and to which category it belongs. An entry is made to post the qualifying items to both the fixed asset system and the general ledger. Donations that come through the Foundation are recorded to the related fixed asset category and as gift income.

Purchasing and the fixed asset accountant will reconcile the fixed asset system for equipment to the general ledger on a quarterly basis.

Purchase of computers, computer related equipment and software must be approved by ITS prior to purchase.

Tagging

Equipment identification tags are affixed to each asset at the College unless it is not physically practical.

Working with the ordering Unit, the Central Receiving is responsible for placing the fixed asset tag provided by the Purchasing Department onto the equipment.

All items that meet the capitalization criteria are recorded as fixed assets regardless of the funding source as most grants allow you to keep any equipment purchased. If the granting agency requests the equipment be returned, we will reverse the capitalization entry.

Disposal or Transfer of Fixed Assets

The safeguarding and use of all fixed assets assigned to a particular unit is the responsibility of unit head. Items no longer needed require the completion of a Fixed Asset Disposal Form which should be submitted to Purchasing. Purchasing is responsible for recording any disposals or transfer of equipment in the Fixed Asset System and will notify the fixed asset account to adjust the general ledger accordingly. All other disposals of fixed assets will be recorded by the fixed asset accountant.

Unallowable Disposal and Transfers

Equipment may not be disposed of or transferred without the approval of the Director of Purchasing. Equipment identified for disposal may not be taken by College employees for personal use.

Allowable Disposals and Transfers

Stolen Assets – The unit director is responsible for contacting Public Safety and retaining a copy of the incident report. A copy of the incident report must be sent to the Purchasing.

Destroyed Assets – Loss due to fire, flood etc. must be reported to the Risk Manager on the Fixed Asset Disposal Form. Risk Manager will notify Fixed Asset Accountant.

Surplus Property – When a Unit no longer needs a fixed asset, the Unit must contact the Director of Purchasing and provide a listing of the asset(s). The Director of Purchasing, in conjunction with the Unit head and the Director of Facilities, will determine if the asset should be transferred to another College Unit, held by the College for use at a later time or declared surplus property and donated, sold or discarded via the College’s trash removal or recycling programs.

Fixed assets sold by the College must be sold in accordance with the State College Contracts Law, N.J.S.A. 18A:64-78 Sale of Surplus Personal Property. The Director of Purchasing in conjunction with either the Unit head or Director of Facilities or Controller, will determine the current fair market value of the asset. If the value is equal to or greater than the public advertised bidding threshold, the asset shall be sold in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:64-78. The College may accept sealed bids from College employees as part of this public sale. If the value of the asset is below the public advertised bidding threshold, the College may sell the item without advertising to a private buyer as long as the buyer is not a College employee or a family member of the College employee. The College may sell surplus property without advertising to another State of New Jersey college or university or to any State of New Jersey agency, municipality or to the United States Federal Government. Buyers of College surplus property must complete and return the Surplus Property Sale Release form to the Director of Purchasing.

The College may donate surplus property to nonprofit organizations which are approved by the State of New Jersey Division of Purchase and Property Surplus Distribution and Support Services. Organizations receiving the donated surplus property must complete and return the Surplus Property Donation Release form to the Director of Purchasing.

Before the surplus property is sold, donated or disposed, the Unit Director must complete the Fixed Asset Disposal form and return it to the Director of Purchasing. The Director of Purchasing will mark item as disposed in the fixed asset system and forward the completed form to the Fixed Asset Accountant.

Before any surplus computer equipment is sold, donated or disposed, the equipment must be cleaned of all data by the College’s ITS Department in accordance with the State of new Jersey guidelines for disposal of computer equipment.

Transfer to other College DepartmentsBefore fixed assets are transferred to another College Unit, the Unit Director must complete the Fixed Asset Disposal form and return it to the Director of Purchasing. The Director of Purchasing will change location in the fixed asset system.

Trash – Unit Director is to submit the Fixed Asset Disposal Form to the Director of Purchasing. The Director of Purchasing will mark item as disposed in the fixed asset system and forward the completed form to the Fixed Asset Accountant.

Trade-in for new equipment – Unit Director is to submit the Fixed Asset Disposal Form to the Director of Purchasing. The Director of Purchasing will mark item as disposed in the fixed asset system and forward the completed form to the Fixed Asset Accountant.

Depreciation of Fixed Assets

The College uses the Straight-line method for all depreciable fixed assets (land and construction-in-progress are not depreciated). Equipment purchased during the fiscal year will be depreciated beginning in the fiscal year in which it was purchased. Building, improvements and infrastructure will be depreciated beginning in the first year it is put into use. Useful lives are based on the table below.