As used in Chapters 113., 117., 123., 124., 125., 126., 127., and 131. of the Revised Code, and any statute that uses the terms in connection with state accounting or budgeting:

Terms Used In Ohio Code 131.01

  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Electronic funds transfer: The transfer of money between accounts by consumer electronic systems-such as automated teller machines (ATMs) and electronic payment of bills-rather than by check or cash. (Wire transfers, checks, drafts, and paper instruments do not fall into this category.) Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Person: includes an individual, corporation, business trust, estate, trust, partnership, and association. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • state: means the state of Ohio. See Ohio Code 1.59
  • Statute: A law passed by a legislature.

(A) “Account” means any record, element, or summary in which financial transactions are identified and recorded as debit or credit transactions in order to summarize items of a similar nature or classification.

(B) “Accounting procedure” means the arrangement of all processes which discover, record, and summarize financial information to produce financial statements and reports and to provide internal control.

(C) “Accounting system” means the total structure of records and procedures which discover, record, classify, and report information on the financial position and operations of a governmental unit or any of its funds and organizational components.

(D) “Allocation” means a portion of an appropriation which is designated for expenditure by specific organizational units or for special purposes, activities, or objects that do not relate to a period of time.

(E) “Allotment” means all or part of an appropriation which may be encumbered or expended within a specific period of time.

(F) “Appropriation” means an authorization granted by the general assembly to make expenditures and to incur obligations for specific purposes.

(G) “Assets” means resources owned, controlled, or otherwise used or held by the state which have monetary value.

(H) “Budget” means the plan of financial operation embodying an estimate of proposed expenditures and obligations for a given period and the proposed means of financing them.

(I) “Direct deposit” is a form of electronic funds transfer in which money is electronically deposited into the account of a person or entity at a financial institution.

(J) “Disbursement” means a payment made for any purpose.

(K) “Electronic benefit transfer” means the electronic delivery of benefits through automated teller machines, point of sale terminals, or other electronic media pursuant to section 5101.33 of the Revised Code.

(L) “Electronic funds transfer” means the electronic movement of funds via automated clearing house or wire transfer.

(M) “Encumbrancing document” means a document reserving all or part of an appropriation.

(N) “Expenditure” means a reduction of the balance of an appropriation after legal requirements have been met.

(O) “Fund” means an independent fiscal and accounting entity with a self-balancing set of accounts recording cash or other resources, together with all related liabilities, obligations, reserves, and fund balances which are segregated for the purpose of carrying on specific activities or attaining certain objectives in accordance with special rules, restrictions, or limitations.

(P) “Lapse” means the automatic termination of an appropriation at the end of the fiscal period for which it was appropriated.

(Q) “Reappropriation” means an appropriation of a previous appropriation that is continued in force in a succeeding appropriation period. “Reappropriation” shall be equated with and incorporated in the term “appropriation.”

(R) “Voucher” means the document used to transmit a claim for payment and evidentiary matter related to the claim.

(S) “Warrant” means an order drawn upon the treasurer of state by the director of budget and management directing the treasurer of state to pay a specified amount, including an order to make a lump-sum payment to a financial institution for the transfer of funds by direct deposit or the drawdown of funds by electronic benefit transfer, and the resulting electronic transfer to or by the ultimate payees.

The terms defined in this section shall be used, on all accounting forms, reports, formal rules, and budget requests produced by a state agency, only as defined in this section.