The code didn't have the bug the results I gave did (too much copying and pasting) :)

the first function actually returns 200. (forecast 1996.0 budget 200)

what I had intended to convey was that I had believed I was required to use the full syntax (((app* area) 'budget*) sub-area) in order to get the 200, which I did, but I wanted to just use 'area-budget' to make it more readable.

But as I learned there were so many things I was doing wrong it wasn't funny ... even though I am laughing now. bewahahahah ! :)