Question

An Army Corps of Engineers project for improving navigation on the Ohio River will have an initial cost of $6,150,000 and annual maintenance of $115,000. Benefits for barges and paddle wheel touring boats are estimated at $775,000 per year. The project is assumed to be permanent, and the discount rate is 12% per year. Determine if the Corps should proceed with the project.What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answer:

The project should be rejected because the costs are larger than the benefits.

Explanation:

EAW = equivalent annual worth = equivalent annual benefit - equivalent annual cost

equivalent annual cost = ($6,150,000 x 12%) + $115,000 = $853,000

equivalent annual benefit = $775,000

EAW = $775,000 - $853,000 = -$78,000

since the EAW is negative, then the project should not be carried out.

Another way to calculate this is by dividing benefits by costs. If the answer is 1 or higher, then the project should be accepted:

B/C = $775,000 / $853,000 = 0.9086 ≤ 1, project rejected