It may not be December but it’s Christmas time at Vance

  • Published
  • By Zach Sproul
  • 71st Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
VANCE AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  Every year, as September winds down, the staff of the Vance Air Force Base Comptroller's office sees green. That is when the "end-of year" fallout funds become available from the east coast to the west with a stop here.

In the end of year spirit, the Comptroller's office is decorated like a winter wonderland. The idea behind the Christmas theme comes from Dianna Delany, budget officer with the 71st Comptroller Squadron.

She has been using the holiday theme since 1993. When waiting for the funds to come down it is just like waiting for Christmas -- everyone has their "wish list," Delany said.

Everyone in the office brought a gag gift in to go with the Christmas theme. "We had a fun little guessing game called 'Fallout Foolery,' where we guessed how much money we would get," Delany said. The donations went to the Enid YWCA Domestic Violence Shelter and to the Enid Animal Shelter.

Much of the country is facing budget issues and Vance is no different. "We weren't expecting as much fallout this year as in the years past," said Maj. Michael Bryant, commander of the 71st CPTS. "If we (Vance) don't "wring our books dry" and use all the money, then we lose it."

Each year Congress distributes money during the fiscal year from Oct. 1 through Sept. 30. At exactly one second past midnight the morning of Oct. 1, that year's money is gone, although the books don't officially close until Oct. 3. "I like to say that there are 33 days in September," said Delany.

There are several different sources of fallout that can come down. Local funds, headquarters and air staff are the most common fallout funds that the comptroller's office handles.

Some of the more recent fallout funds that were handed down from air staff to the base bought televisions and spin bikes for the Health and Wellness Center. The money also funded upgrades for the enlisted dorms with new heating and air conditioning systems at an estimated $6 million.

Additional items purchased from the unfunded list included: 389 new computers, upgrade to the land mobile radios, new visual warning system for the base, new equipment for the security forces, Base Auditorium cameras and radar systems.

The process that leads up to Christmas in September for the Comptroller's office starts in June.

"We develop a plan, just like a military strategic plan of action," Delany said. "One of the most important tools is the 'unfunded list' that we ask everyone to fill out."

Having that list helps to put everything in order of importance. Even with the list there is always something last minute that comes in that needs to be purchased. All purchases must be approved by the wing commander.

There is lots of talk that fiscal year 2013 is going to be worse than 2012. "We are trying to help ourselves this year to get ready for next year," said Delany.

The real unsung heroes during the end-of-year process are the resource advisors for each office, Delany said. "They make this work."

A lot goes into the whole process and without the RAs, the staff of the Comptroller's office and numerous other individuals, the end-of-year purchasing process would be more like "The Nightmare Before Christmas."