Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date (exit price). We have not elected the fair value option for our available for sale marketable securities as we believe these assets are more representative of our investing activities and are viewed as non-operating in nature. These assets are available for future needs of the Company to support our current and projected growth, if required. The Company's investments in marketable securities are classified within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. These investment securities are valued based upon quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in markets that are not active, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market.

The Company’s financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, accounts and notes receivable, prepaid expenses and accounts payable (including income taxes payable and accrued expenses). The carrying value of these financial instruments approximates their fair value because of their short-term nature. The fair value of financial instruments is defined as the amount for which the instrument could be exchanged in a current transaction between willing parties.

The following tables provide fair value measurement information for our marketable securities and deferred compensation fund investment assets as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015:



	As of March 31, 2016
					Fair Value Measurement Using:
	Carrying Amount		Total Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Financial Assets:
Marketable securities
Municipal bonds — available for sale	$	72,358,000	$	72,358,000	$	—	$	72,358,000	$	—

Deferred compensation fund
Money Market	$	4,526,000	$	4,526,000	$	—	$	4,526,000	$	—
Balanced and Lifestyle	9,151,000		9,151,000		9,151,000		—		—
Large Cap Growth	4,884,000		4,884,000		4,884,000		—		—
Small Cap Growth	2,184,000		2,184,000		2,184,000		—		—
Fixed Income	2,688,000		2,688,000		2,688,000		—		—
International	999,000		999,000		999,000		—		—
Mid Cap Growth	1,227,000		1,227,000		1,227,000		—		—
Deferred compensation fund	$	25,659,000	$	25,659,000	$	21,133,000	$	4,526,000	$	—



	As of December 31, 2015
					Fair Value Measurement Using:
	Carrying Amount		Total Fair Value		Quoted Prices in Active Markets (Level 1)		Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
Financial Assets:
Marketable securities
Municipal bonds — available for sale	$	69,496,000	$	69,496,000	$	—	$	69,496,000	$	—

Deferred compensation fund
Money Market	$	3,896,000	$	3,896,000	$	—	$	3,896,000	$	—
Balanced and Lifestyle	9,136,000		9,136,000		9,136,000		—		—
Large Cap Growth	5,218,000		5,218,000		5,218,000		—		—
Small Cap Growth	2,275,000		2,275,000		2,275,000		—		—
Fixed Income	2,624,000		2,624,000		2,624,000		—		—
International	1,025,000		1,025,000		1,025,000		—		—
Mid Cap Growth	1,217,000		1,217,000		1,217,000		—		—
Deferred compensation fund	$	25,391,000	$	25,391,000	$	21,495,000	$	3,896,000	$	—

The fair value of the municipal bonds is measured using third party pricing service data. The fair value of investments in the funded deferred compensation plan are valued based on quoted market prices (Level 1). The money market fund in the funded deferred compensation plan is valued at the net asset value ("NAV") of the shares held by the plan at the end of the period (Level 2). As a practical expedient, fair value of our money market fund is valued at the NAV as determined by the custodian of the fund. The money market fund includes short-term United States dollar denominated money-market instruments. The money market fund can be redeemed at its NAV at its measurement date as there are no significant restrictions on the ability of participants to sell this investment. These assets will be redeemed by the plan participants on an as needed basis.

Unrealized gains and losses from marketable securities are recorded in other comprehensive income in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income. For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we recorded unrealized gains from marketable securities of $555,000 and $3,000, respectively.



	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Gains		Gross Unrealized Losses			Estimated Fair Value		Other-than-temporary Impairments
March 31, 2016
Type of security:
Municipal bonds — available for sale	$	70,593,000	$	1,771,000	$	(6,000	)	$	72,358,000	$	—
Total debt securities	$	70,593,000	$	1,771,000	$	(6,000	)	$	72,358,000	$	—

December 31, 2015
Type of security:
Municipal bonds — available for sale	$	68,640,000	$	869,000	$	(13,000	)	$	69,496,000	$	—
Total debt securities	$	68,640,000	$	869,000	$	(13,000	)	$	69,496,000	$	—

For the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, we received total proceeds, less the amount of interest received, of $2,018,000 and $758,000, respectively, from sales of available for sale municipal bonds. These sales resulted in realized gains of $62,000 and $3,000, respectively, and were recorded in other income – investment and interest in our consolidated statements of comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015. The basis for the sale of these securities was the specific identification of each bond sold during this period.

The following table summarizes the contractual maturities of debt securities held at March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, which are classified as marketable securities in the consolidated Balance Sheet.



	Municipal Bonds — Available for Sale
Contractual maturity:	March 31, 2016		December 31, 2015
Maturing in one year or less	$	804,000	$	774,000
Maturing in second year through fifth year	14,681,000		13,852,000
Maturing in sixth year through tenth year	37,635,000		36,273,000
Maturing after ten years	19,238,000		18,597,000
Total debt securities	$	72,358,000	$	69,496,000