Kyle Township charges residents $100 per year to license household pets. As specified in a statute enacted in 2018, residents are required to purchase a license by October 1 of each year; the license covers the period October 1 through September 30.
The license fees are not refundable. The statute authorizing the fees specifically states that the revenues are to be used to support the township's animal control program. The program, which will be carried out throughout the year, is not expected to receive financial support from any other sources.
During the calendar year 2018 (which corresponds to the township's fiscal year), the township collected $36,000 in license fees for the 2018-2019 licensing period.
1. Prepare a journal entry to record the township's receipt of the license fees.
2. Would you consider the license fees to be exchange or non-exchange revenue? Explain.
3. How do you justify the accounting standard on which your entry is based (especially because the license period overlaps two fiscal years)?