(1) The state auditor shall formulate, prescribe, and publish a classification of accounts with the approval of the advisory committee on governmental accounting which shall be uniform for every level of local government as defined in section 29-1-502; except that each level of government may be classified according to population, and, in that event, each classification of accounts shall be uniform within each class; and except that the classification of accounts prescribed for the purpose of public schools shall be subject to the approval of the state board of education; and further except that the classification of accounts prescribed for the purpose of junior college districts shall be subject to the approval of the state board for community colleges and occupational education.

(2) Upon completion of the classification of accounts for each level of government, the state auditor shall distribute the published copies of the classification of accounts promulgated by the state auditor's office to each unit of local government defined in section 29-1-502 and may distribute such copies to other interested parties. Any amendments or alterations to the original published copies must also be distributed to each unit of local government in the same manner.

(3) Upon request of the local government officials, the state auditor shall assist local government officials in implementing the classification of accounts promulgated pursuant to this section. Any travel and subsistence expense incurred by the state auditor in performing the requests must be paid by the local government.

(4) In accordance with subsection (1) of this section, the state auditor shall formulate classifications of inventory accounts for local governments; such accounts shall be required to be kept only with respect to items of property having an original cost that equals or exceeds an amount established by the governing body of each local government, unless such items having a value of less than the amount established by such governing body are required to be inventoried by directive of the state auditor. In no event shall the amount established by the governing body of any local government pursuant to this subsection (4) exceed the amount specified in rules promulgated by the state controller pursuant to section 24-30-202 regarding inventory accounts for items of state property.