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Relevant Cost Saul’s Company\'s management is trying to decide whether to elimin

ID: 2566567 • Letter: R

Question

Relevant Cost Saul’s Company's management is trying to decide whether to eliminate Department Z, which has produced low profits or losses for several years. The company's 2014 departmental income statement shows the following.

                                                                            Saul Company

                                                                Departmental Income Statement

                                                                For year ended December 31, 2014

                                                               Department A                       Department Z                 Combined

Sales                                                       $350,000                             $87,500                           $437,500

Cost of goods sold                                   230,650                               62,550                               293,200

Gross profit                                               119,350                                24,950                              144,300

Operating expenses Advertising               13,500                                  1,500                                15,000

Store supplies used                                    2,800                                    700                                  3,500

Depreciation – store                                   7,000                                     3,500                               10,500

Total direct expense                                   23,300                                     5,700                              29,000

Allocated expenses

Sales salaries                                             35,100                                     11,700                            46,800

Rent expense                                             11,040                                       2,760                             13,800

Bad debts                                                   10,500                                        2,000                             12,500

Office salary                                               10,400                                        2,600                             13,000

Insurance expense                                      2,100                                         700                                 2,800

Miscellaneous office expense                      850                                            1,250                             2,100

Total allocated expense                               69,990                                        21,010                           91,000

Total expenses                                             93,290                                        26,710                           120,000

Net income                                                   26,060                                         (1,760)                           24,300

In analyzing whether to eliminate Department Z, management considers the following items:

a. The company has one office worker who earns $ 250 per week or $ 13,000 per year and four salesclerks who each earn $ 225 per week or $ 11,700 per year.

b. The full salaries of three salesclerks are charged to Department A. The full salary of one salesclerk is charged to Department Z.

c. Eliminating Department Z would avoid the sales salaries and the office salary currently allocated to it. However, management prefers another plan. Two salesclerks have indicated that they will be quitting soon. Management believes that their work can be done by the two remaining clerks if the one office worker works in sales half-time. Eliminating Department Z will allow this shift of duties. If this change is implemented, half the office worker's salary would be reported as sales salaries and half would be reported as office salary.

d. The store building is rented under a long-term lease that cannot be changed. Therefore, Department A will use the space and equipment currently used by Department Z.

e. Closing Department Z will eliminate its expenses for advertising, bad debts, and store supplies; 65% of the insurance expense allocated to it to cover its merchandise inventory; and 30% of the miscellaneous office expenses presently allocated to it.

Required

1. Prepare a three-column report that lists items and amounts for (a) the company's total expenses (including cost of goods sold)—in column 1, (b) the expenses that would be eliminated by closing Department Z—in column 2, and (c) the expenses that will continue—in column 3.

2. Prepare a forecasted annual income statement for the company reflecting the elimination of Department Z assuming that it will not affect Department A's sales and gross profit. The statement should reflect the reassignment of the office worker to one-half time as a salesclerk.

Explanation / Answer

Total Expenses Eliminated Expenses Continuing Expenses Cost of goods sold 293200 62550 230650 Operating expenses: 0 Advertising 15000 1500 13500 Store supplies used 3500 700 2800 Depreciation-Store 10500 0 10500 Total direct expense 29000 2200 26800 Allocated expenses: Sales salaries 46800 23400 23400 Rent expense 13800 2760 11040 Bad debts 12500 2000 10500 Office salary 13000 0 6500 Insurance expense 2800 455 2345 Miscellaneous office expense 2100 375 1725 Total allocated expense 91000 28990 62010 Total expenses 413200 93740 319460 FORECASTED ANNUAL INCOME STATEMENT Sales 350000 Cost of goods sold 230650 Gross profit 119350 Operating expenses: Advertising 13500 Store supplies used 2800 Depreciation-Store 10500 Sales salaries 29900 Rent expense 11040 Bad debts 10500 Office salary 6500 Insurance expense 2345 Miscellaneous office expense 1725 Total operating expenses 88810 Net income 30540 Note: The total expenses eliminated are $93,740 and the total revenues lost are $87,500. This results in the increase of combined net income by $6,240 Hence, department Z should be closed.