Chapter 8, Problem 5PA

Cash budget

The controller of Bridgeport Housewares Inc. instructs you to prepare a monthly cash budget for the next three months. You are presented with the following budget information:

The company expects to sell about 10% of its merchandise for cash. Of sales on account, 70% are expected to be collected in the month following the sale and the remainder the following month (second month following sale). Depreciation, insurance, and property tax expense represent $50,000 of the estimated monthly manufacturing costs. The annual insurance premium is paid in January, and the annual property taxes are paid in December. Of the remainder of the manufacturing costs, 80% are expected to be paid in the month in which they are incurred and the balance in the following month.

Current assets as of September 1 include cash of $40,000, marketable securities of $75,000, and accounts receivable of $300,000 ($60,000 from July sales and $240,000 from August sales). Sales on account for July and August were $200,000 and $240,000, respectively. Current liabilities as of September 1 include $40,000 of accounts payable incurred in August for manufacturing costs. All selling and administrative expenses are paid in cash in the period they are incurred. An estimated income tax payment of $55,000 will be made in October. Bridgeport’s regular quarterly dividend of $25,000 is expected to be declared in October and paid in November. Management desires to maintain a minimum cash balance of $50,000.

Instructions

Prepare a monthly cash budget and supporting schedules for September, October, and November.

On the basis of the cash budget prepared in part (1), what recommendation should be made to the controller?