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Tinker financial team works hard to close out fiscal year

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  • By Brandice Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., --  Before fiscal year 2008 drew to a close Tuesday, Tinker's financial units made sure they got their money's worth.

As the hours ticked by and the clock neared midnight, the final deadline for fiscal year 2008, the 72nd Comptroller Squadron, 72nd Contracting Squadron and Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center Contracting Directorate and the OC-ALC Financial Management Directorate spent leftover monies on projects awaiting funds.

"This is a critical time of year because we are under pressure to accurately close out our financial records and spend funding to get the base what it needs," said Maj. Michael Vaughn, 72nd CPTS commander. "Financial management personnel worked hard to get Team Tinker what it needed to get the mission done."

David Hancock, 747th Aircraft Sustainment Group Contracting officer, agreed. "It's the busiest time of the year for contracting because money is expiring and the customer still has requirements that must be met," he said. "Sometimes it can get pretty hectic, but generally, it's an opportunity to step up and do what we've been trained to do and provide the absolute best support to the warfighter that we can."

Major Vaughn said the fiscal year budget is distributed by quarter, with a majority of funds paying for contracts used throughout the fiscal year.

"While each program has different missions and needs they all plan to spend their funds throughout the year and have enough to get the mission done," Major Vaughn said. To deplete a multimillion-dollar budget, contracting officials spent the remaining monies on base operating support including utilities, base communications, vehicle operations, plans and programs, and construction projects.

Financial management and contracting personnel had a pre-closeout on Sept. 26. More than $16 million was spent, but when the official closeout date came, officials worked till midnight to ensure the last of the money was spent.

"There is always some added pressure and stress at the end-of-year with the extra hours and short timelines to get the job done," Major Vaughn said. "The guidance and numbers can change very quickly between [Air Force Materiel Command] headquarters and in the wing, groups, and squadrons, so one direction yesterday may change based on available dollars and mission needs the next day."

Maj. Richard Ward, 72nd CONS commander, agreed.

"It's very important to spend all of our funds for Tinker, because we have more needs than we do money," Major Ward said.

For the entire fiscal year, 72nd CONS paid for 2,586 actions, which amounted to $234 million. Of those actions, 74 were bought Tuesday, which amounted to nearly $4.2 million, Major Ward said.

To ease the stress on personnel working until midnight Tuesday, officials said they encouraged a relaxed working environment. At the 72nd CONS, employees wore Hawaiian shirts and brought in homemade food. At the 72nd CPTS, personnel took walks outside, chatted with others and also shared home-cooked food.

"Many folks have a good sense of humor, strong work ethic and are all good Wingmen to each other, which helps with end-of-year closeout stress," Major Vaughn said.