§ 20-16. Definitions.

When used in connection with the internal financial affairs of the city in this article, in other sections of the Code, or in other ordinances, executive orders, or fiscal rules, unless the context clearly requires a different meaning, the following terms shall have the meanings herein set forth:

(1)

Account means a subdivision of a fund or subfund managed by the manager of finance, for the purpose of segregating transactions and moneys related to such transactions.

(2)

Agency means a department, division, section, bureau, commission, board or other organizational unit established by law as a part of the city.

(3)

Appropriation means an authorization, by ordinance, to a specified agency, program, project, or fund to incur obligations upon and to expend from public moneys or anticipated public moneys a specified sum from a specified fund or, if not specified, the general fund for a specific purpose.

(4)

Capital equipment means chattels which have a useful life of more than one (1) year and a unit cost of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000.00).

(5)

Capital improvement means the acquisition of real property or any interest therein to be used in conjunction with the construction or acquisition of buildings or other structures; the improvement to, construction or acquisition of buildings or other structures of a permanent nature; the acquisition of equipment that is or will become permanently attached to, or a functional part of, real property or any interest therein, or of any building or structure; the permanent improvement or betterment of real property, or any interest therein, or of any building or structure; but not any acquisition, construction, or expenditure required for, or in connection with, local public improvements except to the extent that the cost thereof is not assessed upon the property especially benefited; payment of the costs or expenses of planning or engineering, or both, of any survey or study concerning, or with reference to, any program or plan for capital improvements, or for expenditures for capital improvements.

(5.5)

Capital maintenance means the periodic restoration, rehabilitation, refurbishment, or replacement of an existing capital improvement (as distinguished from ordinary repair or other maintenance).

(6)

Emergency reserves means emergency reserves as required by Section 20(5), Article X, of the Colorado Constitution, to be used for declared emergencies, excluding uses for economic conditions, revenue shortfalls, or salary or fringe benefit increases.

(7)

Encumbrance means a known, projected commitment, liability or obligation for executory contracts or requisitions for goods or services. Encumbrances represent the estimated amount of expenditures ultimately to result if unperformed contracts or requisitions in process are completed.

(8)

Expending authority means the officer, employee, board, or subdivision of the city, designated to approve or authorize expenditures.

(9)

Expense means an incurred charge, liability, obligation, or other use of assets, whether paid or unpaid, for the purposes of the City and County of Denver.

(10)

Fund means a fiscal and accounting entity, created by charter, ordinance, or applicable state law, consisting of a balanced set of accounts in which cash and related liabilities, residual balances, and changes therein, are recorded and segregated. Funds, excepting the general fund, have specific sources of receipts and specific purposes of expenditures.

(Code 1950, § 164.2; Ord. No. 473-84, § 2, 9-4-84; Ord. No. 762-88, § 1, 12-12-88; Ord. No. 999-92, § 1, 12-28-92; Ord. No. 144-97, § 1, 3-3-97; Ord. No. 445-06, § 1, 7-10-06; Ord. No. 417, § 2, 11-6-07; Ord. No. 775-07, § 31, 12-26-07)