A cost-benefit analysis is a systematic processthat businesses use to analyze whichdecisions to make and which to forgo. The cost benefit analyst sums the potential rewards expected from a situation or action and then subtracts the total costs associated with taking that action. Some consultants oranalystsalso build models to assign a dollar value on intangible items, such as the benefits and costs associated with living in a certain town.

You are the Fire Chief, How would you use the cost-benefit analysis model to justify a 15% increase in your budget that is not related to personnel costs?