Fuzzy Button Clothing Company reported sales of $$820,000$ at the end of last year; but this year, sales are expected to grow by $9\%.$ Fuzzy Button expects to maintain its current profit margin of $24\%$ and dividend payout ratio of $20\%.$ The firm$$s total assets equaled $$425,000$ and were operated at full capacity. Fuzzy Button$$s balance sheet shows the following current liabilities: accounts payable of $$80,000,$ notes payable of $$25,000,$ and accrued liabilities of $$65,000.$ Based on the AFN $($Additional Funds Needed$)$ equation, what is the firm$$s AFN for the coming year?

$-$$$146,410$

$-$$$139,090$

$-$$$175,692$

$-$$$153,730$

A positively signed AFN value represents

a$.$ a point at which the funds generated within the firm equal the demands for funds to finance the firm$$s future expected sales requirements.

b$.$ a surplus of internally generated funds that can be invested in physical or financial assets or paid out as additional dividends.

c$.$ a shortage of internally generated funds that must be raised outside the company to finance the company$$s forecasted future growth.

Because of its excess funds, Fuzzy Button Clothing Company is thinking about raising its dividend payout ratio to satisfy shareholders. Fuzzy Button could pay out $\_\_\_\_\_\%$ of its earnings to shareholders without needing to raise any external capital. $($Hint: What can Fuzzy Button increase its dividend payout ratio to before the AFN becomes positive?$)$