(a) Reporting Entity

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) was created by Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (78 Stat. 253:42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq) as amended by the Equal Employment Opportunity Act of 1972 (Public Law 92261), and became operational on August 2, 1965. Title VII requires that the Commission be composed of five members, not more than three of whom shall be of the same political party. The members are appointed by the President of the United States of America, by and with the consent of the Senate, for a term of five years. The President designates one member to serve as Chairman and one member to serve as Vice Chairman. The General Counsel is also appointed by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate for a term of 4 years.

In addition, through the Education Technical Assistance and Training Revolving Fund Act of 1992 (P.L. 102-411) the EEOC is authorized to charge and receive fees to offset the costs of education, technical assistance and training.

The Commission is concerned with discrimination by public and private employers of 15 or more employees (excluding elected or appointed officials of State and local governments), public and private employment agencies, labor organizations with 15 or more members or agencies which refer persons for employment or which represent employees of employers covered by the Act, and joint labor-management apprenticeship programs of covered employers and labor organizations. The Commission carries out its mission through investigation, conciliation, litigation, coordination, regulation in the Federal sector, and through education, policy research and provision of technical assistance.

(b) Basis of Presentation

These financial statements have been prepared to report the consolidated financial position of the EEOC, consistent with the Chief Financial Officers' Act of 1990 and the Government Management Reform Act of 1994. These financial statements have been prepared from the books and records of the EEOC in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) using guidance issued by the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board (FASAB), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the EEOC's accounting policies, which are summarized in this note. These consolidated financial statements present proprietary information while other financial reports also prepared by the EEOC pursuant to OMB directives are used to monitor and control the EEOC's use of Federal budgetary resources.

(c) Basis of Accounting

The Commission's integrated Financial Management System uses American Management System's Federal Financial System (FFS), which is a highly flexible financial accounting, funds control, management accounting, and financial reporting system designed specifically for Federal agencies. FFS complies with the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program's core requirements for Federal financial systems.

Financial transactions are recorded in the financial system, using both an accrual and a budgetary basis of accounting. Under the accrual method, revenues are recognized when earned and expenses are recognized when a liability is incurred, without regard to the receipt or payment of cash. Budgetary accounting facilitates compliance with legal requirements and mandated controls over the use of Federal funds. It generally differs from the accrual basis of accounting in that obligations are recognized when new orders are placed, contracts awarded, and services received that will require payments during the same or future periods. Any EEOC intra-entity transactions have been eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

(d) Revenues, User Fees and Financing Sources

The EEOC receives the majority of the funding needed to support its programs through congressional appropriations. Financing sources are received in direct and indirect annual and no-year appropriations that may be used, within statutory limits for operating and capital expenditures. Appropriations used are recognized as an accrual-based financing source when expenses are incurred or assets are purchased.

The EEOC also has permanent, indefinite appropriation. These additional funds are obtained through fees charged to offset costs for education, training and technical assistance provided through the revolving fund. The fund is used to pay the cost (including administrative and personnel expenses) of providing education, technical assistance and training by the Commission. Revenue is recognized as earned when the services have been rendered by the EEOC.

An imputed financing source is recognized to offset costs incurred by the EEOC and funded by another Federal source, in the period in which the cost was incurred. The types of costs offset by imputed financing are:
(1) employees' pension benefits; (2) health insurance, life insurance and other post-retirement benefits for employees; and (3) losses in litigation proceedings. Funding from other Federal agencies is recorded as an imputed financing source.

(e) Assets and Liabilities

Assets and liabilities presented on the EEOC's balance sheets include both entity and non-entity balances. Entity assets are assets that the EEOC has authority to use in its operations. Non-entity assets are held and managed by the EEOC, but are not available for use in operations. The EEOC's non-entity assets represent receivables that, when collected will be transferred to the United States Treasury.

Intra-governmental assets and liabilities arise from transactions between the Commission and other Federal entities. All other assets and liabilities result from activity with non-federal entities.

Liabilities covered by budgetary or other resources are those liabilities of the EEOC for which Congress has appropriated funds, or funding is otherwise available to pay amounts due. Liabilities not covered by budgetary or other resources represent amounts owed in excess of available congressionally appropriated funds or other amounts. The liquidation of liabilities not covered by budgetary or other resources is dependent on future congressional appropriations or other funding.

(f) Fund Balance with the U.S. Treasury

Fund Balances with Treasury are cash balances remaining as of the fiscal year-end from which the EEOC is authorized to make expenditures and pay liabilities resulting from operational activity, except as restricted by law. The balance consists primarily of appropriations. The EEOC records and tracks appropriated funds in its general funds. Also included in Fund Balance with Treasury are fees collected for services that are recorded and tracked in the EEOC's revolving fund.

(g) Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of amounts owed to the EEOC by other Federal agencies and from the public.

Intra-governmental accounts receivable represents amounts due from other Federal agencies. The receivables are stated net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. The method used for estimating the allowance is based on analysis of aging of receivables and historical data.

Accounts receivable from non-Federal agencies are stated net of an allowance for estimated uncollectible amounts. The allowance is determined by considering the debtor's current ability to pay, the debtor's payment record and willingness to pay and an analysis of aged receivable activity.

(h) Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment consists of equipment, leasehold improvements and capitalized software. There are no restrictions on the use or convertibility of property, plant, and equipment.

The EEOC capitalizes property, plant and equipment with a useful life of more than 2 years and an acquisition cost of $15,000 or more ($100,000 for leasehold improvements). Software purchases of $15,000 or more are capitalized with a useful life of 2 years or more.

Expenditures for normal repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred unless the expenditure is equal to or greater than $15,000 and the improvement increases the asset's useful life by more than two years.

Depreciation or amortization of equipment is computed using the straight-line method over the assets' useful lives ranging from 5 to 15 years. Copiers are depreciated using a five-year life. Lectriever power files are depreciated over 15 years and computer hardware is depreciated over 5 years. Capitalized software is amortized over a useful life of two years. Amortization of capitalized software begins on the date it is put in service, if purchased, or when the module or component has been successfully tested if developed internally. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the remaining life of the lease.

The EEOC leases the majority of its office space from the General Services Administration. The lease costs approximate commercial lease rates for similar properties.

(i) Advances

Amounts advanced to EEOC employees for travel are recorded as an advance until the travel is completed and the employee accounts for travel expenses.

(j) Accrued Annual, Sick and Other Leave and Compensatory Time

Annual leave, compensatory time and other leave time, along with related payroll costs, are accrued when earned, reduced when taken, and adjusted for changes in compensation rates. Sick leave is not accrued when earned, but rather expensed when taken.

(k) Retirement Benefits

EEOC employees participate in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees' Retirement System (FERS). On January 1, 1987, FERS went into effect pursuant to Public Law 99-335. Most employees hired after December 31, 1983, are automatically covered by FERS and Social Security. Employees hired prior to January 1, 1984 could elect to either join FERS and Social Security or remain in CSRS.

For employees under FERS, the EEOC contributes an amount equal to one percent of the employee's basic pay to the tax deferred thrift savings plan and matches employee contributions up to an additional four percent of pay. FERS employees can contribute fourteen percent of their gross earnings to the plan. CSRS employees are limited to a contribution of nine percent of their gross earnings and receive no matching agency contribution.

The EEOC recognizes the full cost of providing future pension and Other Retirement Benefits (ORB) for current employees as required by SFFAS No. 5, Accounting for Liabilities of the Federal Government. Full costs include pension and ORB contributions paid out of EEOC appropriations and costs financed by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The amount financed by OPM is recognized as an imputed financing source. Reporting amounts such as plan assets, accumulated plan benefits, or unfunded liabilities, if any, is the responsibility of OPM.

Liabilities for future pension payments and other future payments for retired employees who participate in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program (FEGLI) are reported by OPM rather than EEOC.

(l) Workers' Compensation

A liability is recorded for estimated future payments to be made for workers' compensation pursuant to the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA). The FECA program is administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, (DOL) which initially pays valid claims and subsequently seeks reimbursement from Federal agencies employing the claimants. Reimbursements to the DOL on payments made occur approximately two years subsequent to the actual disbursement. Budgetary resources for this intra-governmental liability are made available to the EEOC as part of its annual appropriation from Congress in the year that reimbursement to the DOL takes place. A liability is recorded for actual unreimbursed costs paid by DOL to recipients under FECA.

Additionally, an estimate of the expected liability for death, disability, medical and miscellaneous costs for approved compensation cases is recorded. The EEOC employs an actuary to compute this estimate using a method that utilizes historical benefit payment patterns related to a specific period to predict the ultimate payments related to the current period. The estimated liability is not covered by budgetary resources and will require future funding. This estimate is recorded as a future liability.

(m) Contingent Liabilities

Contingencies are recorded when losses are probable, and the cost is measurable. When an estimate of contingent losses includes a range of possible costs, the most likely cost is reported, but where no cost is more likely than any other, the lowest possible cost in the range is reported.

(n) Cost Allocations to Programs

Costs associated with the EEOC's various programs consist of direct costs consumed by the program, including personnel costs, and a reasonable allocation of indirect costs. The indirect cost allocations are based on actual hours devoted to each program from information provided by EEOC employees.

(o) Unexpended Appropriations

Unexpended appropriations represent the amount of EEOC's unexpended appropriated spending authority as of the fiscal yearend that is unliquidated or is unobligated and has not lapsed, been rescinded or withdrawn.

(p) Income Taxes

As an agency of the Federal Government, the EEOC is exempt from all income taxes imposed by any governing body, whether it is a Federal, State, commonwealth, local, or foreign government.

(q) Use of Estimates

Management has made certain estimates and assumptions in reporting assets and liabilities and in the footnote disclosures. Actual results could differ from these estimates. Significant estimates underlying the accompanying financial statements include the allowance for doubtful accounts receivable, contingent liabilities and future workers' compensation costs.