$4$ Easy Clean operates a chain of dry cleaners. It is experimenting with the use of a continuous$-$improvement $($i$.$e$.,$ kaizen$)$ budget for

operating expenses. Currently, a typical location has operating expenses of $$18,000$ per month. Plans are in place to achieve labor and

utility savings. The associated operational changes are estimated to reduce monthly operating expenses by a factor of $0\mathrm{.}99$ beginning

in January.

Required:

What are the estimated operating expenses for January? For June? For December? $($Do not round intermediate calculations. Round

your final answers to the nearest whole dollar amount.$)$