Finance closes out fiscal 2004 budget

Published Jan. 22, 2007
By SrA Amanda Mills
Public Affairs

Vance Air Force Base, Okla. -- The 71st Comptroller Squadron funded wing facility projects and unfunded items totaling more than $4 million at the fiscal 2004 closeout Sept. 30.
The 71st Flying Training Wing received $2,922,900 for facility projects and $1,244,700 for items on its unfunded list.
"The most important project was the extension of Gott Road," said Gene Gould, 71st CPTS financial analysis flight chief. The road received $1,199,000 and the Gott Road fence repair at the main gate received $186,000. Other funded projects included $476,000 for a T-6 simulator; $455,000 for pavement repair on McAffrey Avenue, Williams Avenue and Booth Street; and $241,000 for joint seal and spall repair on hangar approaches. The unfunded items included cleaning items for the dorms, a new sound system in the club, computer monitors, security forces equipment and pin setters and ball returns for the bowling center.
Year-end financial closeout "uses Air Force dollars to the maximum extent to meet Air Force requirements," Mr. Gould said. "We effectively use the dollars given to Vance Air Force Base to meet our mission of training under the (Joint Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training) concept."
To use the money and fund wing projects, comptrollers look at the dollars available through the Government Accounting and Finance System, which tracks the operation budget account number, Mr. Gould said.
"We look at the dollars available, then we review the wing's unfunded lists and make recommendations to the wing commander (Col Mike Callan) for his approval," Mr. Gould said.
Mr. Gould and his staff believe this year went smoothly thanks to team effort.
"This year was smoother than last year because we could spend the money earlier," said Dave Gindlesberger, financial analysis flight member. "Our unit managers worked hard and got their paperwork to us beforehand, so all we had to do was get the commander's approval and then send it out."
"I give a lot of credit to my staff for their hard work during the closeout," Mr. Gould said. "But it would also not be possible without the consolidated effort of contracting, unit resource advisors, contractors and finance."