U.S. Air Force graphic by Airman 1st Class Rachel Loftis

Members of the 99th Comptroller Squadron and 99th Contracting Squadron recently closed out the fiscal year budget. The 99th CPTS supports Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases, the Nevada Test and Training Range, and 52 tenant units with a combined annual budget of $552 million.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. — Members of the 99th Comptroller Squadron and 99th Contracting Squadron diligently worked extra hours to close out the fiscal year budget here, Sept. 30.
The 99th CPTS supports Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases, the Nevada Test and Training Range, and 52 tenant units with a combined annual budget of $552 million.
“The end of year closeout process starts early in the middle of the fiscal year and requires financial analysis and decision support from our Airmen to fund requirements to enable the mission while being good stewards of tax-payer dollars,” said Capt. Jacobb Rakes, 99th CPTS budget officer. “This requires a joint effort of vital communication and assessment of operations from every locally assigned and tenant organization in order for CPTS and CONS to execute the $552 million operations and maintenance budget to highlight requirements such as infrastructure upgrades, supplies or other requirements that need to get funded in order to complete the mission.”
According to George Salton, 99th CONS director of business operations, funding is the lifeblood of the acquisition process.
“It is the indispensable factor or influence that gives the acquisition processes its strength and vitality,” said Salton. ”Therefore, it is critical that 99th CPTS and 99th CONS work hand-in-hand to ensure requirements are fully funded and contracted properly.”
This year, Air Combat Command implemented a new accounting and finance system called Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System, or DEAMS, which presented unique challenges.
“As with any new system, there is a steep learning curve that drastically changed established financial management processes,” said Rakes. “DEAMS presented challenges where CPTS was able to excel at end of year within our span of control, however, DEAMS left many challenges that were outside of our control that created many missed opportunities. DEAMS challenges forced CPTS to manage funding manually in order to execute funding requirements and mitigate risks outside our span of control.”
Even though the new system caused challenges for the 99th CPTS and 99th CONS throughout the fiscal year, Nellis AFB executed an annual $295.2 million baseline budget, a $70.9 million overseas contingency operation budget, and $41.3 million Facilities Sustainment Restoration and Modernization budget. During the month of September, the 99th CPTS executed $52.5 million in requirements.
“Lt. Col. Bill Sullivan, the 99th CPTS commander, and Lt. Col. Chris Kay, the 99th CONS commander, planned and executed the fiscal year-end plan well,” said Salton. ”The team funded and awarded 1,141 contracts valued at nearly $148.1 million, and funded and managed $23.5 million in 30,000 government purchase card transactions providing both Nellis and Creech AFBs with foundational support services, RPA testing and training support, Red Flag and U.S. Air Force Weapons School tools to strengthen air combat training and critical tactics development, as well as upgraded roads for safe and efficient travel, and new and improved facilities protecting property and improving working environments for Nellis and Creech AFB professionals.”
According to Rakes, the sheer size and scope of the budget and the organization CPTS supports in addition to managing two accounting systems created challenges that were unique unlikely any other fiscal year closeout.
“The end of year fiscal year closeout process creates additional duty to strategically investing resources in infrastructure and commodity requirements that enable Airmen to complete the mission today, tomorrow, and years to come,” said Rakes.