Question

Several alternatives are under consideration to enhance security at a county jail. Since the alternatives serve different areas of the facility, all that are economically attractive will be implemented. Determine which one(s) should be selected, based on a B/C analysis using an interest rate of 7% per year and a 10-year study period.

Extra Cameras (EC) New Sensors(NS) Steel Tubing (ST) Access Control (NS)
First Cost, $ 38,000 87,000 99,000 61,000
M & O, $/year 49,000 64,000 42,000 38,000
Benifits $/ year 110,000 160,000 74,000 52,000
Disbenefits, $/year 26,000 21,000 32,000 14,000

Answer 1

The only two projects that actually yield a positive benefit are extra cameras (EC) and new sensors (NS). Since you have to decide based on which project yields the highest return, then you should choose extra cameras (EC) since its IRR is 92% which is the highest.

Step-by-step explanation:

we have to determine the NPV of each project:

Extra cameras:

initial outlay = -$38,000

net benefit per year (for the 10 year period) = $110,000 - $26,000 - $49,000 = $35,000

NPV = $207,825

IRR = 92%

New sensors:

initial outlay = -$87,000

net benefit per year (for the 10 year period) = $160,000 - $21,000 - $64,000 = $75,000

NPV = $439,768

IRR = 86%

Steel tubing:

initial outlay = -$99,000

net benefit per year (for the 10 year period) = $74,000 - $32,000 - $42,000 = $0

NPV = -$99,000

Access controls:

initial outlay = -$61,000

net benefit per year (for the 10 year period) = $52,000 - $14,000 - $38,000 = $0

NPV = -$61,000