Comptrollers begin fiscal 2009 close out

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Christopher Gross
  • 3rd Wing Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska --  The 3rd Comptroller Squadron is in the early stages of its end-of-year closeout which ends at midnight Sept. 30. 

Capt. Douglas Bauer, 3rd Comptroller Squadron, is in charge of the 11th Air Force budget. He said the main idea behind the end-of-year closeout is to zero out and have nothing left of Elmendorf's $460 million budget. 

"We are postured to spend any fall out dollars left over from any other base or command," said Bauer. 

Every fiscal year, Oct. 1-Sept. 30, the Air Force receives funding from the Department of Defense, which receives money from Congress. Any money not spent after Sept. 30 will expire and that money can no longer be used for new purchases. 

Bauer said they have to prioritize mission needs every year around this time and determine how to best spend the limited resources that remains. Elmendorf received about $460 million for fiscal year 2009. One-third of the money went to the 11th Air Force, while the other two-thirds went to the 3rd Wing. 

"At the beginning of the year, our initial distribution was $300 million," said Bauer, explaining the process of how the budget process works. "We get supplemental funding for specific programs or reimbursements. Once we receive those documents, we push them out to the units and what that really becomes is our total overall authority. It's our job as finance to make sure all of our money is loaded properly throughout the units." 

As the base nears the end of the fiscal year, closeout preparation begins to include creating unfunded lists. Tech. Sgt. Eric Shevy, 3rd Mission Support Group resource adviser, is in charge of compiling a fallout list made up of resources that are most essential for his units. 

After the base zeros out on its funding, any fallout money they receive can be used to purchase items off of the 11th Air Force or the 3rd Wing's consolidated unfunded fallout list. 

"Preparation begins around the first week of July and carries through into September," said Shevy. 

Shevy said that he and his team will often put in long hours to get the job done when closeout approaches. 

The 11th Air Force and 3rd Wing plan how they will use this money before they receive it by the creating an execution plan. Bauer said that at every level there is money being held back for certain projects. 

Snow removal is one of those things to take into consideration, he said. Base officials don't know how much snow they will get, however, they must plan on how much money they want to set aside for removal. 

"Plan for the worst, hope for the best," Bauer said. 

How can base members help with end-of-year closeout? "Start early; file those travel vouchers, provide future needs to your unit resource advisers, check your inventory levels and just use resources wisely," Bauer said.