§ 33.20  DEPRECIATION METHODS.
   (A)   The town will be depreciating capital assets by using either composite/group method depreciation or the straight-line method.
      (1)   Salvage value will be determined on an asset-by-asset basis.
      (2)   Depreciation will be calculated at year-end.
      (3)   Land is not depreciated according to general accepted accounting principles.
   (B)   A network of assets is composed of all assets that provide a particular type of service for government.
      (1)   A subsystem of a network of assets is composed of all assets that make a similar portion or segment of a network of assets.
      (2)   The following will be the breakdown of our networks and subsystems:
         (a)   Roads/streets network: subsystems: types of streets, curbs; and
         (b)   Traffic components network: subsystems: traffic signals street lights.
      (3)   Composite/group network: composite depreciation refers to calculating depreciation for a collection of similar assets. A single composite rate is applied annually to the acquisition cost of the collection as a whole. At year-end an adjustment will be made to the total cost to account for any
additions/disposals throughout the year. The accumulated depreciation associated with it will also be adjusted. A gain or loss will never be reported on the asset when using the composite method. A full year’s depreciation will be taken when the asset is placed in service and no depreciation recorded in the year it is sold or disposed of. It will group our dissimilar assets by useful lives and our similar assets by networks. To determine the appropriate depreciation rate for the composite group, divide one by the number of years the assets are depreciated. For instance, a group of assets with a 25-year life will be depreciated at 4% each year (1/65).
      (4)   Following is the list of groups it will use for depreciation:
Composite/Group Depreciation
Composite/Group Depreciation
Flood walls/gates
50 years
Street lights
35 years
Traffic signals
25 years
Roads
  Asphaltic concrete
20 years
  Brick or stone
50 years
  Cement
10 years
  Concrete
30 years
  Gravel
15 years
 
      (5)   Straight-line depreciation: all assets accounted for under the capital asset policy will be depreciated using the straight-line method of depreciation.
         (a)   A gain or loss on disposal will be recorded.
         (b)   Following is a list of the most common useful lives:
Building components (HVAC systems, roofing)
20 years
Buildings
50 years
Computer hardware
3 years
Computer software
5 years
Fire trucks
15 years
Grounds equipment - (mowers, tractors, attachments)
15 years
Heavy equipment
10 years
Land improvements - ground work (golf course, athletic fields, landscaping, fencing)
20 years
Land improvements - structure (parking lots, athletic courts, swimming pools)
20 years
Leasehold improvements - useful life of asset or lease term (whichever is shorter)
-
Office equipment
5 years
Office furniture
20 years
Outdoor equipment - (playground equipment, radio towers)
15 years
Vehicles
5 years
 
      (6)   Town utilities’ useful lives are as follows:
         (a)   Water:
Buildings and improvements
50 years
Transmission and distribution mains
50 years
Meters/hydrants
50 years
Pumping equipment
50 years
Water treatment equipment
50 years
Reservoirs/tanks
50 years
Furniture and equipment
10 years
Other equipment
10 years
Transportation equipment
10 years
Shop and lab equipment
10 years
Computer equipment
3 years
Communications equipment
10 years
 
         (b)   Sewer:
Buildings and improvements
50 years
Sewer lines
50 years
Combined sewer overflow
50 years
Lift station
50 years
Treatment plant/equipment
10 years
Office equipment
5 years
Miscellaneous operating equipment
5 years
Vehicles
5 years
 
(Ord. 020905, passed 2-9-2005)