You must evaluate a proposal to buy a new milling machine. The base price is $126,000, and shipping and installation costs would add another $15,000. The machine falls into the MACRS 3-year class, and it would be sold after 3 years for $69,300. The applicable depreciation rates are 33%, 45%, 15%, and 7%. The machine would require a $10,000 increase in net operating working capital (increased inventory less increased accounts payable). There would be no effect on revenues, but pretax labor costs would decline by $57,000 per year. The marginal tax rate is 35%, and the WACC is 11%. Also, the firm spent $5,000 last year investigating the feasibility of using the machine.

How should the $5,000 spent last year be handled? (Please choose one of the following

A. Last year's expenditure is considered as a sunk cost and does not represent an incremental cash flow. Hence, it should not be included in the analysis.

B. Only the tax effect of the research expenses should be included in the analysis.

C. Last year's expenditure should be treated as a terminal cash flow and dealt with at the end of the project's life. Hence, it should not be included in the initial investment outlay.

D. Last year's expenditure is considered as an opportunity cost and does not represent an incremental cash flow. Hence, it should not be included in the analysis.