Question

The St. Lucia Blood Bank, a private charity partly supported by government grants, is located on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia. The blood bank has just finished its operations for September, which was a very busy month due to a powerful hurricane that hit neighboring islands causing many injuries. The hurricane largely bypassed St. Lucia, but residents of St. Lucia willingly donated their blood to help people on other islands. As a consequence, the blood bank collected and processed over 20% more blood than had been originally planned for the month. A report prepared by a government official comparing actual costs to budgeted costs for the blood bank appears below. Continued support from the government depends on the blood bank's ability to demonstrate control over its costs. St. Lucia Blood Bank Cost Control Report For the Month Ended September 30 Actual Planning Results Budget Liters of blood collected 610 490 Variances Medical supplies Lab tests Equipment depreciation Rent Utilities Administration Total expense $ 7,203 $ 5,880 5,081 4,900 2,905 2,600 1,050 1,050 597 525 11,525 11,030 $ 28,361 $ 25,985 $ 1,323 U 181 U 305 U 0 72 U 495 U $ 2,376 U The managing director of the blood bank was very unhappy with this report, claiming that his costs were higher than expected due to the emergency on the neighboring islands. He also pointed out that the additional costs had been fully covered by payments from grateful recipients on the other islands. The government official who prepared the report countered that all of the figures had been submitted by the blood bank to the government; he was just pointing out that actual costs were a lot higher than promised in the budget.

Answer 1

Answer

• Requirement

	Actual Results	Spending Variance		Flexible Budget	Activity variance		Planning Budget
Litres of blood collected (q)	610			610			490
	[A]	[B = Difference between A & C]		[C = Fixed + (Var x Actual units)]	[D = Difference between C & E]		[E= Fixed + (Var x Planned units)]
Medical Supplies	$7,203	$117	F	$7,320	$1,440	U	$5,880
Lab Tests	$5,081	$1,019	F	$6,100	$1,200	U	$4,900
Equipment depreciation	$2,905	$305	U	$2,600	$0	None	$2,600
Rent	$1,050	$0	None	$1,050	$0	None	$1,050
Utilities	$597	$72	U	$525	$0	None	$525
Administrative	$11,525	$255	U	$11,270	$240	U	$11,030
Total Expenses	$28,361	$504	F	$28,865	$2,880	U	$25,985

• Working

	Fixed part	+(	Variable part	x	Actual/Planned units	)
Medical Supplies	$0	+(	$               12.00	x	610 or 490	)
Lab Tests	$0	+(	$               10.00	x	610 or 490	)
Equipment depreciation	$2,600	+(		x	610 or 490	)
Rent	$1,050	+(	$                      -	x	610 or 490	)
Utilities	$525	+(	$                      -	x	610 or 490	)
Administrative	$10,050	+(	$                  2.00	x	610 or 490	)
Total Expenses	$14,225	+(	$               24.00	x	610 or 490	)

Conceptual notes:

#1: Flexible Budget data is based on 'budgeted rates' applied on 'actual level/output/units'

#2: Spending Variance = Difference between 'Actual data' and 'Flexible Budget data'

#3: Activity Variance = Difference between 'Flexible Budget data' and 'Static/Planned Budget data'.

* Favourable Variance in case of Expenses/Costs occurs when:

>Actual expenses/costs are LESS than Flexible budget expense/costs [Spending Variance]

>Flexible budget expenses/costs are LESS than Static/Planned budget expenses/costs [Activity Variance]

* Unfavourable Variance in case of Expenses/Costs occurs when:

>Actual expenses/costs are MORE than Flexible budget expense/costs [Spending Variance]

>Flexible budget expenses/costs are MORE than Static/Planned budget expenses/costs [Activity Variance]