Several substantive changes have been made to the Texas Comptroller Manual of Accounts (FPP Q.009). These changes include routine maintenance and edits to the Manual of Accounts and also reflect legislation passed by the 85th Legislature, Regular Session effective prior to Sept. 1, 2017.

The Manual of Accounts provides current information on state agencies, appropriated funds and accounts and object codes to be used in properly recording accounting transactions.

The interest rate the state pays on a late payment due to a vendor under the state’s prompt payment law will be 5.25 percent for fiscal 2018. The interest calculation is one percentage point higher than the prime rate published in the Wall Street Journal on the first business day of July.

For more information, see Interest Rate on eXpendit (FPP I.005).

House Bill 3849, 85th Legislature, Regular Session, continues the policy of the Legislature to limit the number of new general revenue accounts, special funds and dedications of revenue.

A summary of HB 3849 is available at Funds Consolidation: Limits on New General Revenue Accounts, Special Funds and Dedications of Revenue (FPP A.046).

USPS agencies must use the fiscal 2017 USPS Fiscal Year-End Close Manual and USPS Year-End Close Schedule to correctly prepare files for the 2017 fiscal year-end close.

For complete information, including training calendar and links to the manual/schedule, see USPS Fiscal Year-End Close Process (FPP R.016).

Agencies that reimburse employees for state-related hotel stays are due a refund for the associated hotel occupancy taxes. The refunds are generated automatically through USAS each quarter.

The hotel occupancy tax refund for June through July will be available on the DAFR8190 and DAFR8200 reports on Aug. 9.

For more information, see Hotel Occupancy Tax Quarterly Refund (FPP B.006).

Financial reporting analysts can help agencies reconcile the 2017 annual financial report (AFR) to the Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) either over the phone or during scheduled work sessions. Prior to scheduling a work session or making travel arrangements for a work session, agencies must attempt to complete the fiscal year-end USAS entries.

If you encounter problems with USAS entries you are attempting to enter, contact your agency’s financial reporting analyst, who may request copies of the USAS entries. If the issue cannot be resolved by phone or email, you may then schedule a work session with your agency’s financial reporting analyst.

CAPPS Central agencies must follow CAPPS HR/Payroll Year-End Processing Instructions (FPP T.003) to properly prepare for the fiscal year-end process.

The system will be unavailable beginning at 5 p.m. on Aug. 31 through close of business on Sept. 4. Normal activities will resume at 7 a.m. on Sept. 5.

Institutions of higher education must report certain information about jobs and reappointments to HRIS at the beginning of each fiscal year. Due dates for when institutions must submit reappointment information via electronic file transfer (EFT) are:

• Sept. 6: EFT #1 — Classification and Carriers
• Sept. 8: EFT #2 — Reappointments for Fiscal 2018
• Sept. 15: EFT #3 — Terminations for Fiscal 2017

The deadline to submit HRIS September maintenance is Oct. 7.

See HRIS Higher Education Reporting Procedures for Reappointments (FPP M.003) for details, including instructions for reporting reappointment information.

Fiscal 2018 appropriation budgets must be entered into USAS and all required documentation submitted by July 28.

Budget entry and documentation submission must be completed before appropriation control officers can approve a budget setup.

For more information including schedule spreadsheets (Excel), instructions, definitions and samples, see Establishing Appropriations by Method of Finance, Rider and Capital Budget Schedules (FPP A.020).