Should costs always be assigned on a direct basis?

Costs should not always be assigned on a direct basis because doing so may not be practical or economical in many situations. In governmental accounting, it's common to encounter scenarios where direct cost assignment might lead to inefficiencies or may not accurately reflect the true cost of providing services.

For example, many costs are indirect, such as administrative overhead, which support multiple programs or functions but cannot be easily attributed to a specific one. Assigning all costs directly could lead to a misleading financial picture and potentially result in poor decision-making. Therefore, it is often more advantageous to allocate costs based on a reasonable method that could involve a mix of both direct and indirect cost assignments, ultimately leading to a more accurate representation of financial performance and resource utilization.

This approach aligns with the principles of cost accounting in government, where the goal is not just to track expenses but to ensure that resources are managed efficiently and effectively.