Reporting obligations of Poland’s local government units regarding financial liabilities

Abstract

Incurring liabilities by local government units is subject to strict regulations and principles defined in Poland’s public finance and accounting laws. The accounting system of local government units includes various types of required reports referring to assets, finances and activities of management units. Reporting as such is a source of information according to defined principles reflecting specific expectations of those receiving said reports. The provisions of the public finance law obligate local government units to periodically summarize their general financial operations. A specific responsibility focuses on listing claims and liabilities. The objective of the article is an assessment of the financial liabilities’ structure of Poland’s local government units based on data included in the periodic reports of said units. The thesis suggests that the assessment will vary, to a greater degree, due to the types of liabilities undertaken by the mandates local government units. Because of how the objective is stated, considerations of essential issues and report limitations are examined in the area of local financial operations on the basis of submitted reports. The article applies the following research methods: literature examination, analysis of laws, and comparative-descriptive-synthesis analysis. Results of this study provide a basis to conclude that on the basis of the statements on the financial operation of local government units can be assessed incurring obligations, which involve public funds. These reports form the basis for analytical studies of the financial status of local government units, specifying the relevant statements items.