Budget Builder Library

Budget Builder Library. 1

Budget Builder Requirements. 1

Fiscal Year Calendars. 1

Duty Status Codes. 3

Pay System Codes and Pay Plan Codes. 3

DCPS Type Hour Codes and Budget Builder Payroll Accounts. 4

Payroll Forecast Notes (Version 9) 4

Invalid Calculator Combinations. 4

“Overseas” Costing in Budget Builder. 5

General Schedule Construction. 5

Air Force Overhire Reporting in Budget Builder. 5

Air Force 1092 Import 6

Army AVK 692 Import 8

 

Program

Budget Builder is fully supported in 64 bit Windows 7 XP Mode.  Other supported operating systems for Budget Builder include: Windows 98, ME, 2000, NT, XP, and Vista 32 bit.
Please note that 64 bit Vista is not supported.

 

Budget Builder software is only licensed to reside on individual PCs.  There is not a server version at present.  Budget Builder requires 640K memory and about 28 MB local hard drive disk space.

 

Data

User data can be located on a local hard drive or on a server drive.  Users may easily merge separate files from subordinates or other users by tagging and clicking Merge.  Budget Builder users can share data files by email or on a common drive.  Budget Builder is a single user application meaning different users cannot access the same file at the same time.

 

Budget Builder reports may be printed or output to the Windows clipboard for quick pasting into Excel, Word, emails, etc. All Budget Builder data may be easily exported to Excel, Word, email, or other programs using special Clipboard commands within Budget Builder.

 

Budget Builder does not dial.  Budget Builder for Civilian Personnel DCPS data is downloaded from DFAS using local procedures.  DCPDS data normally arrives from a personnel office as a text email attachment.

 

Following are fiscal year calendars in many colors. 

Calendar colors are ranked by frequency of download.

These are one page calendars in small PDF files.

Government holidays are squared.  Pay period ending dates are circled. 

 

===== FY 2012 Calendars  

Yellow 

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2011 Calendars  

Yellow 

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2010 Calendars  

Yellow 

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2009 Calendars  

Yellow 

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2008 Calendars  

Yellow 

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2007 Calendars  

Yellow 

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2006 Calendars

Yellow

Black and White 

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2005 Calendars

Yellow

Black and White

Purple

Gray

Green

Light Blue

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

===== FY 2004 Calendars

Yellow

Black and White

Purple

Light Blue

Gray

Green

Dark Blue

Red

Pink

 

 

 

 

Duty status codes are assigned by personnel and are contained in Budget Builder DCPDS_02 personnel files.  Duty status 00 employees are employees in a normal pay status.  When an organization has several employees not in duty status 00 (such as mobilized employees) duty status codes are useful to identify these employees.  Typically these codes explain why employees may appear in a personnel file and not in payroll file on the same date.

 

00              No Action Pending

10              CAO PCS Reassignment

11              Separation (With Obligation)

20              LWOP-Mil

21              Furlough-Non-Military Over 30 Days

22              Furlough-Non-Military 30 Days or Less

23              Suspension Over 30 Days

24              Suspension 30 Days or Less

25              LWOP and Drawing Injury Compensation From OWCP

30              LWOP Over 30 Days (Except When Drawing Injury Comp)

31              LWOP 30 Days or Less (Except When Drawing Injury Comp)

32              Detail With Same CCPO

33              Detail To Another CCPO, Agency Etc

34              Pay-Status/Non-Duty Status (Interim)

89              Leave With Pay Pending Disability Retirement

90              Maternity Leave

99              SES/Faculty Sabbatical (Non-Duty Status With Pay)

 

Pay System Codes and Pay Plan Codes

Personnel data uses Pay Plan codes.  Payroll data uses Pay System codes instead of Pay Plan codes. The Pay System Code is a code describing the various categories of personnel for accounting purposes. Pay System Codes are generally collection of Pay Plans.  Technically Pay System Codes are derived from the Pay Plan Code, Special Program Indicator, and Employee Type Code.  The Pay System Codes workbook has a tab with Pay System Codes and Pay Plans and a tab showing Pay System Codes only.

 

Budget Builder uses the DCPS type hour code to assign costs to a payroll account. Payroll accounts are used to collect the 200+ type hour codes into 19 significant budget categories.  The Type Hour - Account worksheet shows the Budget Builder payroll account assigned to each DCPS type hour code.

 

 

In Budget Builder for Civilian Personnel Version 9 an accurate payroll forecast does not result in these two cases.
1 - an imported pay period was incorrectly named
2 - the filter and forecast buttons are used together in one report

1 - An imported pay period was incorrectly named

If a payroll file is totaled by pay period and two pay periods have exactly identical dollar amounts to the penny this indicates the same payroll has been imported twice under different names.  The solution is to delete the incorrectly named payroll batch and import it again correctly.

The reason an incorrectly named pay period prevents a forecast is because Budget Builder correctly excludes retroactive payments in the last pay period when forecasting.  Retroactive payments are payments reported in one period but earned in previous period.

Example - Suppose the payroll ending 5/13/06 is incorrectly named and imported as 5/27/06.  Although the file is said to be for PPE 5/27 Budget Builder sees payments as earned in pay period 5/13 because payroll files internally contain the date payments were actually earned.  Therefore no costs are actually earned in PPE 5/27 and the forecasts using the last pay period amounts are missing or widely inaccurate.

2 - Filter and forecast buttons used together in one report

Budget Builder does not prepare a payroll forecast when a report filter is used. For example, in a Super Payroll Report, if the Filter button is used (i.e. it is not Off) and the Forecast button is used (i.e. “Include recommended forecast” is chosen) the resulting report will not include a forecast.   This limitation is not stated in the Budget Builder User Guide.

 

At present there are two workarounds:

1.  For small and medium size payroll files.

Run a forecast using the desired filter as a sort sequence.  For example if a UIC filter was desired, run a report that uses UIC as the first sort sequence.  The resulting report will include the desired UIC forecast. 

 

2.  For large payroll files (over 200,000 records).

Create a new file with only the desired records to forecast.  For example if a UIC filter was desired, then copy payroll records in that UIC to a new file and forecast using the new file.

A new file can be created by using Count to set a filter then using Copy to create the new file.

 

 

Problem: There have been two reports of users being unable to use the calculator after entering invalid combinations.

 

Background: Calculator costs are updated after every change entered in the calculator.  If invalid combinations are entered by a user (such as pay plan=GS and grade=19) an "invalid combinations" message is displayed which says:

“Note: Pay=0 with current calculator settings. This is often due to an invalid combination of pay table, plan, grade, and step. Use the Pay button to avoid invalid combinations.”

 

Solutions:

1.  Normally this is not an issue.  Users simply correct the incompatible values and get correct results. 

2.  In two reported cases users were unable to use the calculator just by choosing valid combinations. 

In this case to get the calculator working again a user can:
              a) exit Budget Builder
              b) using My Computer delete file BBCALC.MEM in the Budget Builder directory. 



Hawaii, Alaska, and other COLA areas

Hawaii and Alaska are not truly “overseas” areas although sometimes they included in that term. Employees in Hawaii and Alaska and some other locations receive COLA (Cost of Living Allowance).  Budget Builder for Civilian Personnel calculates COLA when applicable. DCPDS provides the COLA percentage for each employee. Using this data Budget Builder calculates COLA 

Naples, Iwakuni, and other overseas areas

Naples, Iwakuni, and other such areas are true overseas areas in that they receive LQA, post allowance, SMA, and/or TQS. Budget Builder can accurately forecast costs in these areas using Payroll Projection.

Type

Hour      Description

===        ==============================

YE         Living Quarters Allowance (LQA)

YF         Post Allowance (foreign)

YH         Separate Maintenance Allowance (SMA)

YJ          Temporary Quarters Subsistence (TQS)

 

Personnel data does not have the data needed to calculate these costs.

 

The construction of the general schedule has varied over the years.  The method currently in use is described in this document. This describes the process used by the Office of Personnel Management to calculate a new General Schedule when an across-the- board pay increase goes into effect. The process is based on the desire to maintain equal within-grade amounts and has been followed for many years. Note that the resulting dollar values vary slightly from those that would occur if all rates of the previous schedule were simply increased by the amount of the pay raise.

 

1.      Increase the step 1 rates from the previous schedule by the amount of the pay raise, i.e., x 1.02 for 1995, and round the resulting salary to the nearest dollar.

2.      Divide the step 1 rate by 30 and round the result to the nearest dollar to calculate the within-grade dollar amount (3.33%).

3.      Calculate step 2 rates by adding one within-grade amount to the step 1 rate, step 3 rates by adding one within-grade amount to step 2 rates, etc.

 

Rates for GS-1, steps 1 through 9, and GS-2, steps 1 through 4, are out of alignment with the rest of the schedule because wage and price policy in 1979 resulted in higher increases for these steps than granted to the rest of the pay schedule. These steps at grades 1 and 2 are derived by increasing the previous rate by the amount of the pay raise, i.e., times 1.02 for 1995.  GS-1, step 10, and GS-2, steps 5 through 10 , are derived in the normal fashion using step 1 rates that would be in effect if the 1979 adjustments had been uniform.  Pay rates for GS-1, step 1, and GS-2, step 1 used for this process for the 1995 schedule are $11,682 and $13,214, respectively.  The within-grade amounts for GS-1, step 10, and GS-2, steps 5 through 10, are derived from these amounts, not from the actual step 1 schedule rates.

This information was provided December 15, 1994.

 

 

Budget Builder can be used to closely manage Air Force overhire costs.  The following provides a short summary of the basic procedure followed by a detailed step by step description.

Overhire Reporting – Summary of Basic Procedure

To report overhire costs:

              Step 1. Name a Budget Builder local field to contain overhire information

              Step 2. Create a SSN file to identify the SSNs and Org codes of overhires

              Step 3. Use Assign Budget Codes to insert overhire codes into the payroll file from the SSN file

Result: Now you can report overhire using any payroll report by sorting and/or filtering on the overhire field.

 

Overhire Reporting – Detailed Procedures

Step 1. Name a local field for overhire information

On the main screen click Name Local Codes and enter a name in one of the local fields to designate that field for overhire data.  In this example we choose to use local field 1for overhires and enter “OvHire” as the name for local field 1.  Local field names are limited to six characters.

 

Step 2. Create a SSN file to identify overhires by name, SSN, and organization

a.  On the main screen click SSN Files Menu,

              choose Open SSN Files Dialog,

              then click New and a new SSN file will appear. 

b.  Rename the new file as desired.  OH_SSNS.DBF for overhire SSNs would be a good name.

c.  Enter the name, SSN and organization of each overhire in the new SSN file.

Since new files already have one record click Edit to enter data for the first overhire, then click New to create a new record for each additional overhire SSN.  Organization codes may be up to 8 characters. We recommend organization codes preceded with uniform characters like “OH-” or “O-”.  For example:

              OH-CE,

              OH-SPTG,

              OH-WING,

              etc

This coding allows filtering overhires separately from other positions by using wildcard filters in reports.

 

Step 3.  Insert overhire data into the active payroll file from the SSN file

a.  Insure the desired payroll and SSN files are active (i.e., shown on the main screen)

b. On the main screen click Assign Budget Codes, then specify these options and click OK.

              Assign To - Payroll File

              Codes    -  Local codes only

              From      -  SSN File

              Action   -  Normal

When finished the number of successful assignments (payroll records with matched SSNs) will be shown.

 

Result

The payroll file now has all overhire costs identified.  Any standard Budget Builder payroll report may be used to report overhire costs in by Org, Name, PEC, RCCC, BA, etc (as well as other normal reporting options)

 

To interactively view, sort, count or total overhire costs in payroll:

a.  open the payroll file

b.  choose a view containing the OvHire field (e.g. Local 1-5)

     or

     use Show Column from the View menu to add the OvHire column to the desired view

c.  use the Sort, Count, Total, and other view function as desired

 

Version 9 imports Air Force 1092 reports.

              Q: Why import the Air Force 1092 report?

              A:  Several Air Force users requested it.  Work year costs on the 1092 are sometimes used in deciding fund allocations.  Therefore analysts want to verify the report.  It can be time consuming to verify the 1092 calculations.  For example, columns on a 1092 contain both hours and dollars so simple totals of hours and dollars require effort to obtain.  Also some desired work year costs, e.g. by PEC, do not appear on the 1092.  Once imported into Budget Builder work year costs by PEC and other codes are available using the Work Year Cost Report.

Import

To import a 1092 report the 1092 file to be imported must be named as follows:

Position               1            always G             

Position 2            last digit of CALENDAR year. 

Positions              3-6         last day of month in MMDD format

Positions 7-8       optional

Extension             always TXT

Example: G50331.TXT is a correct name for importing a 1092 report for the period ending Mar 31, 2005.

Import Note

All 1092s used for testing had BVB as the first three characters in the 1092 report text file so we decided to use the BVB characters to identify a text file as a 1092 report.  Now, a few Air Force activities have shown us 1092 report files that will not import because the 1092 file does not contain BVB as the first three characters.  The solution is to open the 1092 file and type BVB in all caps as the first three characters of the file.  In the next version of Budget Builder we will look for another way to identify a 1092 text file.

 

Import Accuracy Test

The test for an accurate import of the 1092 report is to run a WY Cost report.  These costs should match exactly:

Budget Builder Regular WY Cost  = 1092 Basic Avg Sal

Budget Builder Total WY Cost  = 1092 Man Year Costs

 

During import Budget Builder does this:

Puts the 1092 page number in the Name field.

Puts the 1092 cost descriptions in the Remarks/DCPSJO field.

Nr Paid is not used.

 

The 1092 report displays eight pay systems columns horizontally:

GEN SCH    WAGE EMP    GEN MGR      SES      NON-US    NON-US     NON         OTHER        TOTAL

                                                                                                       DIRECT   INDIRECT   CHARGE

During import Budget Builder creates separate records for each pay system resulting in a vertical arrangement where each pay systems record is in a separate record.  The following two character codes are used:

Codes for 1092 pay system headings

GS = GEN SCH

WG = WAGE EMP

GM = GEN MGR

SE = SES

ND = NON-US DIRECT

NI = NON-US INDIRECT

NC = NON CHARGE

OT = OTHER

One consequence of this coding is that most useful 1092 reports will use PaySys as the 1st sort.

 

Pay systems will sort in this sequence in Budget Builder.

GM = GEN MGR

GS = GEN SCH

NC = NON CHARGE

ND = NON-US DIRECT

NI = NON-US INDIRECT

OT = OTHER

SE = SES

WG = WAGE EMP

Type Hour Codes used

When a 1092 line relates to a specific type hour code that type hour code is used.

When a 1092 line does not relates to a specific type hour code these Summary Type Hour codes are used:

R+          Regular

O+         Overtime

B+          Benefits

T+          Other

 

1092 Reports and Views

In Version 9 a new view named “Air Force 1092” is included for viewing imported 1092 data

Also Report 70.13 -- AF 1092 Work Year Costs is included.

Other custom reports and views may be created by users.

 

Budget Builder 1092 Reporting

Most useful Budget Builder reports using 1092 data will use Pay Sys as the 1st sort since Budget Builder creates separate records for each pay system.  With Pay Sys as the first sort data will be reported alphabetically by pay system.

Example:

Pay Sys GM Gen Mgr

Pay Sys GS Gen Sch

Pay Sys NC Non Charge

Pay Sys ND Non-Us Direct

Pay Sys NI Non-Us Indirect

Pay Sys OT Other

Pay Sys SE SES

Pay Sys WG Wage Emp

 

Budget Builder now has the option to import payroll data from the biweekly Army AVK 692 report.  This is not preferred because the standard gross pay file is far superior to an AVK 692.  The AVK 692 does not have type hour codes, FTE and non FTE hours, UIC, Org, and other codes that are contained in gross pay files.

 

Q: Why import the AVK 692?

A:  (1)  Some Army activities cannot receive their gross pay file

      (2)  In a few unusual situations an Army activity cannot extract their employees from a gross pay file because they are scattered among various major commands, UICs, etc.

Import

To import an AVK 692 report the AVK 692 file to be imported must be named as follows:

Position               1            always V

Position 2            last digit of CALENDAR year. 

Positions              3-6         pay period ending date in MMDD format

Positions 7-8       optional

Extension             always TXT

Example: V50219.TXT is a correct name for importing an AVK 692 report for the pay period ending Feb 19, 2005.

During import Budget Builder does this:

The AVK 692 report displays costs in these columns horizontally:

 

|----- EMPLOYEE NAME -----|   |------ USER NAME ------|

                                                 |-----------------------------EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS--------------------------|

         SOCIAL                                                                                                              NAF

        SECURITY    GROSS     OTHER    SEVERANCE             TSP                      OASDI                                 401K

 APC     NUMBER      PAY       PAY        PAY       TSP     BASIC    CSRS     FERS   SEGURO   MEDICARE   FEHB     FEGLI     SERS

 

 

During import Budget Builder creates separate records for each column resulting in a vertical arrangement where each cost is in a separate record according to DCPS type hour codes.  The following type hour codes are used:

DCPS Codes for AVK 692 columns

When an AVK 692 column relates to a specific DCPS type hour code that type hour code is used.  When an AVK 692 column does not relate to a specific type hour code then summary type hour code with a + sign are used.  These codes are used.

R+          GROSS PAY

T+          OTHER PAY

YP         SEVERANCE PAY

UI          TSP

UD         TSP BASIC

UB         CSRS

UC         FERS

UJ          OASDI SEGURO

UF         MEDICARE

UH         FEHB

UG         FEGLI

UU         401K SERS

The test for an accurate import of the AVK 692 report is to run a Super Payroll Report by cost center (Program Director).  AVK and Budget Builder cost center totals should match exactly:

AVK 692 Views and Reporting

A new view (Army AVK 692) is included for the AVK 692

Other custom views may be created by users.

 

Several Budget Builder reports have an Overtime column.  This column will be empty since the AVK 692 does not identify overtime. 

The AVK 692 Gross Pay column will appear in the Super Payroll Report Regular column.

The AVK 692 Other Pay column will appear in the Super Payroll Report Other column (as will other costs).

AVK 692 sequence and totals

Sequence: FSN, PD, APC, SSN

Totals:

              SSN – 2 lines – no totals

              APC – “APC SUB TOTAL”

              PD – “Total Dollars”

These totals are not normally shown on field level AVK 692 reports.

              FSN – no totals

              Report - “Grand Totals”

The AVK 692 does not have UIC, AMS, MDEP or D/R (Direct/Reimbursable) codes.  However these codes may be assigned to a Budget Builder AVK 692 payroll file from an APC master file by using Assign Budget Codes.

 

The AVK 692 has vertical column totals but does not have a column to show the total of cost of pay period costs in a row.