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How Costs spread over time are calculated

To help you plan your budget evenly across the years, the system spreads the cost of each task over the years leading up to when it is due.
This approach ensures that funding is collected gradually, so the full amount is available when the task needs to be completed.


Example: Servicing task due in 2030

Let’s say you create a servicing task that:

  • Has a next due date of 2030, and

  • Costs $1,000 to complete.

Since the maintenance plan for 2025 has already been approved, the system begins spreading the cost from 2026 up to 2029 — the four years leading up to 2030.

Step 1: Divide the cost across the period

The total cost of $1,000 is divided evenly over 4 years:

$1,000 ÷ 4 = $250

Each year from 2026 to 2029 receives $250, so by the start of 2030, the full amount has been collected.

Year Allocation Cumulative Total
2026 $250 $250
2027 $250 $500
2028 $250 $750
2029 $250 $1,000

Note: We do not include 2030 itself, because the cost needs to be fully collected by the time the task is due.


Step 2: Next period (2030–2034)

After the 2030 servicing is complete, the next cycle begins — the next servicing is due in 2035.

The cost for this future servicing is adjusted for inflation
With an inflation of 3.3%, the inflation adjustment increases the cost to $1,176, the system now spreads that cost evenly across five years (2030–2034):

$1,176 ÷ 5 = $235.25

Each year from 2030 to 2034 receives $235.25, ensuring another full cycle of cost collection before 2035.

Year Allocation Cumulative Total
2030 $235.25 $235.25
2031 $235.25 $470.50
2032 $235.25 $705.75
2033 $235.25 $941.00
2034 $235.25 $1,176.25

Summary

  • Costs are spread evenly across the years before a task’s due date.

  • The due year itself is not included, so the funds are ready at the start of that year.

  • For future cycles, the cost is adjusted for inflation and spread over the new period until the next due date.

This ensures your maintenance plan always remains balanced, predictable, and financially sustainable.