Who is responsible for approving expenditures that exceed the incident budget?

The responsibility for approving expenditures that exceed the incident budget lies primarily with the Incident Commander or authorized Finance/Administration personnel. The Incident Commander is the individual in charge of all incident operations and is responsible for overseeing the entire incident management process. This includes financial oversight, where the Incident Commander must ensure that all expenditures align with the established budget.

Authorized Finance/Administration personnel play a critical role in tracking expenditures and financial decisions during an incident. They provide necessary financial information and ensure that spending stays within legal and operational parameters. When an expenditure exceeds the budget, it typically requires specific authorization from the Incident Commander or their designated finance representative, ensuring that there is accountability for budgeting and financial decisions.

This ensures that decisions regarding additional spending are made with a comprehensive understanding of the incident's financial situation and the broader implications for resources and funding.