At the end of the current year, a government reports $9,000 as a fund balance—assigned in connection with an encumbrance. What information does this balance convey?

a. A donor has given the government $9,000 that must be used in a specified fashion.

b. The government has made $9,000 in commitments in one year that will be honored in the subsequent year.

c. Encumbrances exceeded expenditures by $9,000 during the current year.

d. The government spent $9,000 less during the year than was appropriated.