Reference no: EM13395636

The state of Glottamora has $100 million remaining in its budget for the current year. One alternative is to give Glottamorans a one-time tax rebate. Alternatively, two proposals have been made for state expenditures of these funds.

The first proposed project is to invest in a new power plant, costing $100 million and having an expected useful life of 20 years. Projected benefits accruing from this project are as follows:

YE ARS          BENEFITS PER YEAR( $ MILLIONS )

1-5                              $ 0

6-20                            20

The second alternative is to undertake a job retraining program, also costing $100 million and generating the following benefits:

YE ARS          BENEFITS PER YEAR( $ MILLIONS )

1-5                              $20

6-10                              14

11-20                              4

The state Power Department argues that a 5 percent discount factor should be used in evaluating the projects, because that is the government's borrowing rate. The Human Resources Department suggests using a 12 percent rate, because that more nearly equals society's true opportunity rate.

What rate do you believe to be more appropriate?