Fiscal year close brings new equipment, policies Published Oct. 3, 2010 By Airman 1st Class Lillian Chatwin 151st ARW/PA SALT LAKE CITY -- The Utah Air National Guard closed out the end of their fiscal year 2010 on September 30, and Congress passed the "Continuing Resolution" giving the Utah ANG authority to continue operations. "It's business as usual until Congress signs the budget," said Comptroller Lt. Col. Linda Robles, 151st Comptroller Flight. "The 'Continuing Resolution' allows this quarter's expenditures to equal the amount we spent on last year's first quarter." Last year the 151st Air Refueling Wing's budget was cut 38 percent, but there are no projected budget changes for this fiscal year. What has changed is the city limits policy for mileage reimbursement. A new Corporate City Limits policy letter has been published effective October 1. Over 40 zip codes have been added to the policy and are now defined as within city limits. The city limits have been extended to include all Salt Lake City zip codes according to the U.S. Postal Service definition. Guardsmen who live outside of the new city limits are still entitled to mileage reimbursement. The finance department closed out the fiscal year working with the National Guard Bureau to ensure the wing's budget was balanced, and that all residual funds were obligated. Finance spent the day purchasing prioritized requests from the Unfunded Requirements list. This "wish list" is generated annually from units on base who have equipment and supply needs with values over $3,000. "Most of the funds were spent on mobility assets, which is why we're here." said Colonel Robles. The largest purchases for the Utah ANG were actually provided by NGB. NGB gave $112,000 towards new gym equipment including treadmills, ellipticals, spinners, weights and rowing machines. The equipment will be transferred to the new gym building that is scheduled to open in May. NGB's largest purchase for the wing, $202,000, was spent on Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, Explosives (CBRNE) assets and chemical warfare gear like gas masks, overboots and gloves which are distributed to Air Guardsmen who are about to deploy. "The personal protection gear contributes to our mobility readiness, we need it to fight and win in a chemical environment," said Senior Master Sgt. Allan Martineau, the Asset Management Flight Chief for the 151st Logistics Readiness Squadron. "The equipment requisitioned will bring us to full capacity of what we're required to maintain." The base is also scheduled to receive a shipment of over 400 APECS jackets from the expenditures, but supply is not certain if the shipment will arrive in time for this winter season explained Sergeant Martineau. A complete zip-code list and additional information on the new city limits for mileage reimbursement can be found through the following link. https://www.my.af.mil/afknprod/ASPs/docman/DOCMain.asp?Tab=0&FolderID=AN-FM-XF-32-6&Filter=AN-FM-XF-32