Static and flexible budgets, variances, information quality The photocopying department in the local polytechnic college has budgeted month
Static and flexible budgets, variances, information quality
The photocopying department in the local polytechnic college has budgeted monthly costs at $40 000 per month plus $7 per student. Normally 800 students are enrolled. During March there were 730 students (which is within the relevant range). At the end of the month, actual fixed costs were $42 000 and variable costs were $3650.
Required
(a) Develop a static budget for photocopying costs based on 800 students.
(b) Calculate the March static budget variance for fixed and variable photocopying costs.
(c) Develop a flexible budget for the actual volume of students in March.
(d) Calculate the March flexible budget variance for fixed and variable photocopying costs.
(e) Which variance information — part (b) or (c) — is of higher quality? Explain.