Entering Higher Education Expenditure Activity in USAS for USAS/ABEST Reconciliation

Overview

Applicable to

Institutions of higher education.

Note: Does not apply to community/junior colleges

Policy

The Legislative Budget Board (LBB) uses the Automated Budget and Evaluation System of Texas (ABEST) to support the appropriation process and the reporting requirements of the General Appropriations Act, Article IX, Section 7.01 and Texas Government Code Sections, 403.021(g) and 403.036(c).

The Uniform Statewide Accounting System (USAS) and ABEST reconciliation process is designed to load ABEST with actual USAS expenditures by LBB program code and LBB object of expense. Although the expenditures are not loaded at the appropriated fund level, the appropriated fund level is identified when the method of finance is distributed in ABEST.

Institutions hold the following appropriated funds outside the state treasury: D23 Fund 7999 – Local Funds in MOF & Institutional Funds

To meet USAS/ABEST reconciliation requirements, institutions must enter fiscal 2024 expenditure activity for these funds into USAS by Nov. 1.

Object Codes

Amounts entered in USAS for D23 Fund 7999 can be at a summary level using the following object codes:

Note: For appropriated funds held outside the state treasury, institutions must enter the expenditure information using valid program cost accounts (PCAs) so the expenditures post to the proper program code/strategy found on the agency’s strategic crosswalk. PCA 99999 cannot be used.

ABEST Mapping

ABEST mapping should only be requested when the agency expending the funds was not the agency that was appropriated the funds (Ex: Capital Construction Assistance Projects Revenue Bonds). When an appropriation expenditure does not roll to ABEST due to an incorrect GL, PCA or object code, correcting entries must be posted in USAS prior to year-end close. ABEST mapping should not take the place of such correcting entries.