ou are a county supervisor for Firwood County and are preparing for the monthly supervisor meeting where the operations of various units are reviewed. One of the units that the county government operates is a motor pool with 50 vehicles. The motor pool furnishes gasoline, oil, and other supplies for the cars and hires two mechanics who do routine maintenance and minor repairs. Major repairs are done at a nearby commercial garage. A department manager oversees the operations.   Each year, the manager of the motor pool prepares a master budget for the motor pool. Depreciation on the automobiles is recorded in the budget to determine the costs per mile. One factor in the performance evaluation of the motor pool manager is actual expenses compared to budgeted expenses.   The following schedule presents the master budget for the year and for the month of September. It also includes the actual September results along with the variances relative to the master budget:

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
10th Edition
ISBN:9781259964947
Author:Libby
Publisher:Libby
Chapter1: Financial Statements And Business Decisions
Section: Chapter Questions
Problem 1Q
icon
Related questions
Question
100%

Problem 17-61 (Static) Flexible Budget (LO 17-6)

You are a county supervisor for Firwood County and are preparing for the monthly supervisor meeting where the operations of various units are reviewed. One of the units that the county government operates is a motor pool with 50 vehicles. The motor pool furnishes gasoline, oil, and other supplies for the cars and hires two mechanics who do routine maintenance and minor repairs. Major repairs are done at a nearby commercial garage. A department manager oversees the operations.

 

Each year, the manager of the motor pool prepares a master budget for the motor pool. Depreciation on the automobiles is recorded in the budget to determine the costs per mile. One factor in the performance evaluation of the motor pool manager is actual expenses compared to budgeted expenses.

 

The following schedule presents the master budget for the year and for the month of September. It also includes the actual September results along with the variances relative to the master budget:

 

FIRWOOD COUNTY
Motor Pool Budget Report for September
  Annual Master Budget One-Month Master Budget September Actual Over- or (Under-) Budget
Gasoline $ 226,800 $ 18,900 $ 18,600 ($300)
Oil, minor repairs, parts, and supplies 20,160 1,680 1,690 10
Outside repairs 15,120 1,260 1,270 10
Insurance 33,600 2,800 2,814 14
Salaries and benefits 168,000 14,000 13,800 (200)
Depreciation 147,840 12,320 12,100 (220)
Total cost $ 611,520 $ 50,960 $ 50,274 ($686)
Total miles 1,176,000 98,000 88,200  
Cost per mile $ 0.52 $ 0.52 $ 0.57  
Number of vehicles 50 50 48  

 

You are aware that the motor pool manager's annual evaluation and prospects for promotion will be discussed at the meeting and that supporters will point to the fact that the September results indicate good performance. You have not formed an opinion of the motor pool manager's performance, but you would like to be prepared for the discussion you know will take place.

 

Required:

a. Based on the Motor Pool Budget Report for September provided above, prepare an analysis of the manager's performance that you believe provides a reasonable assessment.

 

 
 
  Actual (based on 88,200 miles) Cost Variances Flexible Budget (based on 88,200 miles) Activity Variance Master Budget (based on 98,000 miles)
Variable costs:  
Gasoline $18,600 $31,674 U $31,674 $31,674 F $18,900
Oil, minor repairs, and so on 1,690   U     F 1,680
Outside repairs 1,270   U     F 1,260
Total variable costs $21,560   U     F $21,840
Fixed costs:  
Insurance $2,814   U       $2,800
Salaries and benefits 13,800   F       14,000
Depreciation 12,100   F       12,320
Total fixed costs $28,714   F       $29,120
Total costs $50,274   U     F $50,960
Expert Solution
trending now

Trending now

This is a popular solution!

steps

Step by step

Solved in 2 steps

Blurred answer
Knowledge Booster
Financial Statements
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, accounting and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
Recommended textbooks for you
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259964947
Author:
Libby
Publisher:
MCG
Accounting
Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337272094
Author:
WARREN, Carl S., Reeve, James M., Duchac, Jonathan E.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting Information Systems
Accounting
ISBN:
9781337619202
Author:
Hall, James A.
Publisher:
Cengage Learning,
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis…
Horngren's Cost Accounting: A Managerial Emphasis…
Accounting
ISBN:
9780134475585
Author:
Srikant M. Datar, Madhav V. Rajan
Publisher:
PEARSON
Intermediate Accounting
Intermediate Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259722660
Author:
J. David Spiceland, Mark W. Nelson, Wayne M Thomas
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Financial and Managerial Accounting
Accounting
ISBN:
9781259726705
Author:
John J Wild, Ken W. Shaw, Barbara Chiappetta Fundamental Accounting Principles
Publisher:
McGraw-Hill Education