Answer:
National Bank
a. Allocation of Occupancy costs to Linder and Chiro Departments, using the current allocation method:
Linder's Department Chiro's Department
First-floor square feet 900 1,800
Average occupancy cost $8 $8
Total Occupancy costs $7,200 $14,400
b. Allocation of Occupancy costs to Linder and Chiro Departments, using the relative market values of the floor space:
Linder's Department Chiro's Department
First-floor square feet 900 1,800
Relative market value per square foot $40 $10
Total Occupancy costs:
Depreciation, interest & taxes $36,000 $18,000
Heating, lighting, & maintenance
(Rate = $1.375) $1,237.50 $2,475
Total occupancy costs $37,237.50 $20,475
c. As a manager of a second-floor department I would prefer the second method, where only the heating, lighting, and maintenance costs are based on the average cost and the rest of the occupancy costs are based on the relative market values of the floor space. The reason is that it looks more justified given that the two floors do not have the same market value. Assuming that the two floors command the same market value, then the first method is okay.
Explanation:
a) Data and Calculations:
Depreciation—Building $31,500
Interest—Building mortgage 47,250
Taxes—Building and land 14,000 $92,750
Gas (heating) expense 4,375
Lighting expense 5,250
Maintenance expense 9,625 $19,250
Total occupancy cost $112,000
Total square feet = 14,000
Average occupancy cost based on square feet = $8 ($112,000/14,000)
Building = 7,000 square feet on each floor
Diane Linder's first-floor department = 900 square feet
Juan Chiro's second-floor department = 1,800 square feet
Market rental costs (excluding costs for heating, lighting, and maintenance):
First-floor space = $40 per square foot
Second-floor space = $10 per square foot
