On January $1,2024,$ MINE Corporation leased several machines to CRAFT Company under a three$-$year operating lease agreement. The first payment occurs on lanuary list, at the beginning of the lease. The lease calls for semiannual payments of $$20,500$ each, payable on June $30$ and January $1$ of each year. The machines were acquired by Mine Corporation at a cost of $$135,000$ and are expected to have a useful life of five years with no expected residual value.

How much depreciation expense will MINE Corporation record during the year ending December $31,2024?$

$$45,000$

$$27,000$

$$41,000$

The lessor will not record depreciation because the lessee will record it$.$