Chief Financial Officer of the DDS The Shiner has for the first time reported publicly on DDS finances. DDS Commander Firefly is keen for the DDS to show more transparency so for the first time the DDS has revealed where its money comes from.
Of course most of its yearly income comes from the UNP, in 2113-4 this amounted to 27 billion zarks. This includes money from every UNP member for defence as well as extra money for UNP wide services such as communications with minor UNP colonies which the DDS does on the UNP's behalf (using the Friendship 75A fleet).
The DDS also earns just over 2 billion zarks a year from the Rim Worlds Consortium for patrols and military presence. A new 3 year deal was recently signed continuing this service for the next 3 years (the yearly fee increasing from 1.92 to 2.05 billion zarks). Remedia also contributes 1.1 billion zarks a year for DDS help in guarding its borders.
Income from military sales is very important to the DDS, although the peak year 2109 which saw 7.3 billion zarks bought in has not been repeated income from sales is on average about 4.8 billion zarks a year. On top of this is around 1.2 billion zarks for licence fees and royalties from commercial sales which use DDS technology. This could increase by 750 million-1 billion zarks a year after a new deal with Consolidated-CFM to use DDS engine technology in their commercial spaceflight business.
In total with some extras added DDS income in the last financial year was 36.2 billion. The DDS also sold surplus land and facilities to raise another 3.5 billion zarks so total income was just shy of 40 billion.
Total expenditure across the DDS last year was 42.7 billion zarks. The shortfall was covered by DDS reserves and borrowing. Expenditure is likely to drop below 40 billion for the next few years after major projects like the Corkscrew pass into production (which costs a lot less than development).
The Shiner said that DDS finances are very healthy though work needed to be done on diversifying income streams. He said that some new commercial tie-ins and businesses, including a possible mining company, could come online in 2114-5.
