Final answer:
The depreciation expense for the building for the first year, using the straight-line method, would be $15,067.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the depreciation expense using the straight-line method,
we need to subtract the salvage value from the initial cost of the building and then divide it by the useful life.
In this case, the depreciation expense for the first year would be ($490,000 - $38,000) / 30 = $15,067.