J. Talbot is the accounting manager for Kolia Waste Disposal Corporation. Kolia is having its worst financial year since its inception. The company is expected to report a net loss. In the midst of such bad news, Ms. Talbot surprised the company president, Mr. Winston, by suggesting that the company write off approximately 25 percent of its garbage trucks. Mr. Winston responded by noting that the trucks could still be operated for another two or three years. Ms. Talbot replied, “We may use them for two or three more years, but you couldn’t sell them on the street if you had to. Who wants to buy a bunch of old garbage trucks and besides, it will make next year’s financials so sweet. No one will care about the additional write-off this year. We are already showing a loss. Who will care if we lose a little bit more?”

Required:

a. How will the write-off affect the following year’s return on assets ratio?

b. How will the write-off affect the asset and income growth percentages?

c. Would writing off the garbage trucks for the reasons stated present any ethical concerns for Kolia? Explain.