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Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Notes to Financial Statements  
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Cash and Cash Equivalents - The Partnership classifies its short-term investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less as cash equivalents.

Uncollected Rental Revenue - The Partnership estimates the collectability of uncollected rental revenue on an ongoing basis by reviewing past-due monthly rents and assessing the current creditworthiness of each tenant.  Allowances are provided based on historical write-offs. Allowances on uncollected rental revenue as of December 31, 2011 and 2010 were $39,856 and $38,802, respectively.

Property and Depreciation - Property is recorded at cost and is composed primarily of mini-storage facilities. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over an estimated useful life of 20 years for the facilities. Building improvements are depreciated over a five year period. Property under capital leases is amortized over the lesser of the lives of the respective leases or the estimated useful lives of the assets.

Income Taxes - No provision has been made for income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. The taxable income or loss of the Partnership is allocated to each partner in accordance with the terms of the Agreement of Limited Partnership. Each partner's tax status, in turn, determines the appropriate income tax for its allocated share of the Partnership's taxable income or loss. The net difference between the basis of the Partnership's assets and liabilities for federal income tax purposes and as reported for financial statement purposes for the year ended December 31, 2010 is $67,784. For the year ended December 31, 2011 the Partnership changed the accounting method for federal income tax purposes from cash to accrual basis thereby eliminating the difference in the basis of the Partnership’s assets and liabilities between tax and the GAAP basis financial statements. The change in tax accounting method resulted in an adjustment to the limited partners’ capital account for tax purposes only in order to coincide with the accounting method used to prepare the Partnership’s GAAP basis financial statements.

Noncontrolling Interest - In accordance with ASC 810-10 (formerly SFAS No. 160, "Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements"), the Partnership reports noncontrolling interests in real estate joint ventures as a separate component within equity in the consolidated financial statements. The net income allocated to noncontrolling interest for the year ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 was $67,315 and $79,331 respectively. Distributions were made to the noncontrolling interest in real estate joint venture during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 in the amount of $69,300 and $75,300, respectively. 

Revenues - Rental income, which is generally earned pursuant to month-to-month leases for storage space, as well as late charges and administrative fees, are recognized as earned. Promotional discounts reduce rental income over the promotional period. Ancillary revenues and interest and other income are recognized when earned.

Advertising Expense - Costs related to advertising in Yellow Pages are capitalized and amortized over 12 months. All other advertising costs are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense for the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010 were $167,098 and $218,433 respectively.

Net Income per Limited Partnership Unit - Net income per limited partnership unit is computed by dividing net income allocated to the limited partners by the weighted average number of limited partnership units outstanding during each year.

Estimates - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Partnership to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets - The Partnership regularly reviews long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If the sum of the expected undiscounted future cash flow is less than the carrying amount of the asset, the Partnership would recognize an impairment loss to the extent the carrying value exceeded the fair value of the property. No impairment losses were required in 2011 or 2010.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments - For all financial instruments, including cash and cash equivalents, uncollected revenue, other assets, distributions due to partners, incentive management fee payable to general partners, property management fee payable, customer deposits and other liabilities, carrying values approximate fair values because of the short maturity of those instruments. The carrying value of the capital lease obligations approximates fair value because the terms of the instrument are similar to terms available to the Partnership for similar types of leasing agreements.

 

Concentrations of Credit Risk - Financial instruments that potentially subject the Partnership to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents and uncollected rent revenue. The Partnership places its cash and cash equivalents with high credit quality institutions. Accounts at banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) up to $250,000. At December 31, 2011, the Partnership had $20,110 in excess of insured limits. The Partnership performs ongoing evaluations of these institutions to limit its concentration of risk exposure. Management believes this risk is not significant due to the financial strength of the financial institutions utilized by the Partnership.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In June 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-05, Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Presentation of Comprehensive Income, which amends current comprehensive income guidance. This accounting update eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income (loss) as part of the statement of shareholders’ equity. Instead, the Company must report comprehensive income (loss) in either a single continuous statement of comprehensive income (loss) which contains two sections, net income (loss) and other comprehensive income (loss), or in two separate but consecutive statements. This guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011. The Partnership does not expect the adoption of the standard update to impact its financial position or results of operations, as it only requires a change in the format of presentation.

In May 2011, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2011-04, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and IFRSs. The new guidance results in a consistent definition of fair value and common requirements for measurement of and disclosure about fair value between U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards. While many of the amendments to U.S. GAAP are not expected to have a significant effect on practice, the new guidance changes some fair value measurement principles and disclosure requirements. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Partnership does not expect the adoption of the standard update to have a significant impact on its financial position or results of operations.