memorandum to: | Chair Eagle University Budget Committee | from: | Greg Knezevich | subject: | Book Donations Department Request for Additional Part-Time Worker | date: | June 3, 2014 | cc: | Budget committee Members | | | 1- Summary
The decision concerning the request for the additional funding of $5,000 for part time help in the book donations department has a tremendous effect on the donations department, the library, and the entire University. With all due respect to the committee’s decision to deny the funding, after a careful review of the analysis that has been performed there appears to be some flaws that should be considered.
First, the initial calculations by the committee of the total unit cost of $18.90 (per book) is incorrect. Second, determination of the total unit cost of $23.90 (per book) supposing the request of $5,000 is granted is incorrect. Third, the consideration of eliminating the department altogether is based on the assumption the University can save a total of $23,900, which is also incorrect.
The mistakes that have been made are mostly due to the mistreatment of the costs and incorrect methods that were used in making these calculations. The accuracy of these number is critical to making a decision that is in the best interest of the University. The treatment of these costs and the methods used to arrive at them must be reexamined so that a proper valuation can be made of the book donations department. 2- Underlying Problems
The first flaw inherent in the committee’s analysis is the use of the absorption costing method to calculate the total unit cost of $18.90 (per book) based on 1,000 books. The absorption method is mostly used for external reporting and has flaws in the treatment of costs for internal purposes. It is advised that one uses caution against expressing fixed costs on an average per unit basis in