Emergency preparedness appropriations were received from Congress to help pay the costs of keeping the mail, postal employees and postal customers safe, and are restricted for such use. These funds were accounted for as deferred revenue upon receipt and were largely utilized to procure capital equipment. We recognize revenue for emergency preparedness appropriations at the same time we recognize depreciation expense for capital equipment purchased with these appropriations. The emergency preparedness appropriations revenue recognized during the years ended September 30 was $64 million in 2009, $61 million in 2008 and $76 million in 2007.
Appropriations that have not been recognized as revenue during the years ended September 30 were $486 million in 2009 and $550 million in 2008. The current portion is included in prepaid box rent and other deferred revenue, and the long-term portion is in deferred appropriations and other revenue on our balance sheets.
