# 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:

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):

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.