So why does the government/military waste so much money at the end of the year?

SSgt Dan Montague — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:11:48 -0400

So we all know that if you don't spend it, you don't get it next year. The amount of waste annually is shocking. Throwing away useful gear because you don't rate it and over spending on stuff you don't need at the end of the year just because you need to spend X amount in 1 month.
What is the reason this is still a thing? Clearly this is a flawed system of money management.

Response by MAJ Rene De La Rosa made Jul 22 at 2016 6:14 PM

MAJ Rene De La Rosa — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:14:09 -0400

Set governmental largesse at its' best. It is unfortunate.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 22 at 2016 6:23 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 18:23:19 -0400

seen it in iraq 2009 we have 15 mil, get rid of it

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jul 22 at 2016 7:24 PM

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel — Fri, 22 Jul 2016 19:24:21 -0400

"Say It Aint So" You mean like the Fluke Meter we got for everyone in the Division at SPAWARS 6211 or all the Tweakers we bought. I'm very aware of what you speak and I appreciate you speaking out against it.

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 23 at 2016 12:34 PM

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 23 Jul 2016 12:34:31 -0400

Why does the government/military waste money every day of the year? It's due to a complete lack of personal relationship to that money. Both entities operate as if they have vastly unlimited coffers to tap. It's not their money. It's Magic Money. It's OPM: Other People's Money!!!

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 24 at 2016 2:43 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 24 Jul 2016 14:43:25 -0400

It's a wonderful system that punishes you for saving money allocated to your budget reckoning that you obviously didn't need it. Thus you have stupid budgeting officers who for example, authorize the purchase of iPads for their "unit" for no reason except to burn up the money.

Response by SGT David T. made Jul 25 at 2016 11:49 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 11:49:20 -0400

Short answer is the Appropriations Act. Since funding categories carry with them finite times they can be used, each organization must expend the funds or risk dealing with a reduced budget the next year. The military isn't to blame for this, it is a curse of Federal law. I agree there is a ton of waste this causes, but until there is some incentive to save money or the funds roll over it wont change. We need changes in Federal law in order to fix this.

Response by CMSgt Mike Esser made Jul 25 at 2016 3:25 PM

CMSgt Mike Esser — Mon, 25 Jul 2016 15:25:34 -0400

We have buckets of money, at the end of the year if you don't spend whats in the bucket, they assume you can do less and your bucket gets smaller. Plus, it's money thats allocated FOR spending, so if the lattitude is there, commanders spend it knowing the bucket will be topped off on 1 October.