Can a government sell assets to itself to generate revenue?

Can a government sell assets to itself to generate revenue?

A city is having fiscal problems in 2015. It expects to report a deficit in its general fund, the only fund that is statutorily required to be balanced. To eliminate the anticipated deficit the city opts to ”sell” its city hall—to itself—for $5 million. The city establishes a ”capital asset financing agency.” The agency is a separate legal entity but will have to be reported as a component unit. As such, it will be accounted for in a fund other than the general fund. The city structures the transaction as follows: