The Solomon Management Association held its annual public relations luncheon in April 2017. Based on the previous years results, the organization allocated $28,472 of its operating budget to cover the cost of the luncheon. To ensure that costs would be appropriately controlled, Molly Hubbard, the treasurer, prepared the following budget for the 2017 luncheon.

The budget for the luncheon was based on the following expectations.

The meal cost per person was expected to be $13.20. The cost driver for meals was attendance, which was expected to be 1,540 individuals.

Postage was based on $0.72 per invitation and 3,700 invitations were expected to be mailed. The cost driver for postage was number of invitations mailed.

The facility charge is $2,400 for a room that will accommodate up to 1,700 people; the charge for one to hold more than 1,700 people is $2,900.

A fixed amount was designated for printing, decorations, the speakers gift, and publicity.

SOLOMON MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Public Relations Luncheon Budget
April 2017
Operating funds allocated	$	28,472
Expenses
Variable costs
Meals (1,540 $13.20)		20,328
Postage (3,700 0.72)		2,664
Fixed costs
Facility		2,400
Printing		1,090
Decorations		980
Speaker's gift		270
Publicity		740
Total expenses		28,472
Budget surplus (deficit)	$	0

Actual results for the luncheon follow.

SOLOMON MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION
Actual Results for Public Relations Luncheon
April 2017
Operating funds allocated	$	28,472
Expenses
Variable costs
Meals (1,760 $13.90)		24,464
Postage (4,700 0.72)		3,384
Fixed costs
Facility		2,900
Printing		1,090
Decorations		980
Speaker's gift		270
Publicity		740
Total expenses		33,828
Budget deficit	$	(5,356	)

Reasons for the differences between the budgeted and actual data follow.

The president of the organization, Zachary Taylor, increased the invitation list to include 1,000 former members. As a result, 4,700 invitations were mailed.

Attendance was 1,760 individuals. Because of higher-than-expected attendance, the luncheon was moved to a larger room, thereby increasing the facility charge to$2,900

At the last minute, Ms. Cole decided to add a dessert to the menu, which increased the meal cost to $13.9 per person.

Printing, decorations, the speakers gift, and publicity costs were as budgeted.

Required:

a. Prepare a flexible budget and compute the sales and variable cost volume variances based on a comparison between the master budget and the flexible budget.

b. Compute flexible budget variances by comparing the flexible budget with the actual results.