Using a default logic a fund fiscal year is selected for an obligation to be created. The amount of the obligation is set to the obligation amount requested. As part of creating an obligation, the system also updates the total obligated amount for the corresponding fund fiscal year and the budget remaining. The fund fiscal year can be set to accept obligations and allow the fund fiscal year to be over obligated if the fund administrator selects this configuration setting. For example, an obligation is created for a client for $500 for the child care fund, the total obligated amount for the fund fiscal year is increased by $500, and the budget remaining in the fund fiscal year will be decreased by $500.