Release from Restriction

[BethAn]

I've been able to answer most of my questions but this one still confuses me, and I think I did it wrong. The funny thing is, the Balance sheet looks right.
I wrote a couple of checks from Temp Res accounts but I didn't press the release button. I didn't relize it until after I printed a Balance Sheet and the numbers all looked right. What exactly does the release do?
When I write a check, should I debit the Income or Equity account? If the Income account, which one, the first one or the one that comes under the TEMP RESTRICTED RELEASE heading?
If I didn't press the release button, shouldn't my Balance Sheet be out of balance?
A big part of the decision to purchase this product, besides it doing everything, was the great support on this web site, but lately I haven't been able to get any answers. Where is everyone?

Thanks

[Jeff]

The release transaction removes the money from the restriction shown in the equity portion of the balance sheet. If you look at the equity section of your balance sheet is the balance shown for each donor restriction right? When you do the release, it reduces the donor restriction by the amount you are releasing.

When I write a check, should I debit the Income or Equity account?

When you write the check, do the transaction just as you always would. Normally when you write a check you credit the bank and debit either an expense, liability or another asset account. If donor restricted money is being used on that check, just include the release transaction for the amount of donor restricted money that is being used. If you forget to include the release transaction when you write the check, you can always do it later. To add it later go to Accounting -> Fund Accounting -> Enter Transactions, add a transaction on the same date and month as your original check, but just click the release button. The release transaction is a balanced transaction that can be posted alone.

If I didn't press the release button, shouldn't my Balance Sheet be out of balance?

Your balance sheet won't be out of balance, the wrong amount will be shown for that particular donor restriction in the equity section.

[BethAn]

Thanks, I got it!!!!!
I got all 3 checking accounts to recocile with the bank statements and everything else looks right. Even the temp restricted accounts.
Beth