B-166801, MAY 27, 1969

B-166801, MAY 27, 1969

TO MR. EDWARD L. RODGERS, JR.:

THIS REFERS TO LETTER OF APRIL 24, 1969, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING AN ADVANCE DECISION FROM OUR OFFICE WHETHER THERE MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT A RECLAIM VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $106.67 IN FAVOR OF MR. MICHAEL B. MCNAMEE, SR., AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR,COVERING REIMBURSEMENT OF TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS INCIDENT TO A TRANSFER OF STATION.

THE INFORMATION OF RECORD SHOWS THAT BY TRAVEL ORDER DATED AUGUST 2, 1968, MR. MCNAMEE WAS TRANSFERRED FROM ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, TO CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. TRAVEL TO CHICAGO BY THE EMPLOYEE AND HIS FAMILY APPEARS TO HAVE OCCURRED ON JULY 28. THE INFORMATION FURNISHED SHOWS THAT ON AUGUST 15, 1968, HE RENTED A TRUCK AND TRAILER AND TRANSPORTED 6,800 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS. FOR THIS SHIPMENT HE FURNISHED A WEIGHT CERTIFICATE. ON SEPTEMBER 1, 1968, HE RENTED A TRAILER AND WAS REIMBURSED FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF 1,050 POUNDS BASED ON 7 POUNDS PER CUBIC FOOT. THE EMPLOYEE IS CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENT FOR STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS AT 634 E. 4TH STREET, ALTON, ILLINOIS, FOR THE PERIOD JULY 28, 1968, THROUGH AUGUST 20, 1968, IN THE AMOUNT OF $82.67. HE IS ALSO CLAIMING REIMBURSEMENT OF TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS OF $24 FOR TWO DAYS, AUGUST 19 AND 20, 1968, WHILE SETTING IN A TRAILER. THE RECORD INDICATES THAT 634 E. 4TH STREET, ALTON, ILLINOIS, WAS THE EMPLOYEE'S PLACE OF RESIDENCE PRIOR TO HIS TRANSFER.

SECTIONS 6.4D (2) AND (3) OF THE BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A 56, REVISED OCTOBER 12, 1966, PROVIDES IN PART, AS FOLLOWS:

"/2) REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE EXPENSES. WHEN THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM IS USED FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE, THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE EMPLOYEE SHALL BE DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TABLE OF STORAGE ALLOWANCES IN THE COMMUTED RATE SCHEDULE. HOWEVER, THE AMOUNT OF REIMBURSEMENT SHALL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE STORAGE.

"/3) DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED. CLAIMS FOR REIMBURSEMENT UNDER THE COMMUTED RATE SYSTEM SHALL BE SUPPORTED BY (A) THE ORIGINAL OR A CERTIFIED COPY OF THE RECEIPTED WAREHOUSE BILL FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE * * *.'

UNDER THE ABOVE REGULATIONS TO BE ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE IT IS REQUIRED THAT THERE BE FURNISHED THE ORIGINAL OR A COPY OF A RECEIPTED WAREHOUSE BILL. IN SOME CASES WE HAVE ALLOWED REIMBURSEMENT FOR TEMPORARY STORAGE IN OTHER THAN A LICENSED WAREHOUSE WHERE A RECEIPT HAS BEEN FURNISHED SHOWING THE STORAGE LOCATION, DATES OF STORAGE AS WELL AS THE ACTUAL WEIGHT.

IN SUPPORT OF HIS CLAIM FOR $82.67 MR. MCNAMEE SUBMITS A COPY OF A CHECK DATED AUGUST 26, 1968, IN THE AMOUNT OF $124, PAYABLE TO THE ALTON SAVINGS AND LOAN ASSOCIATION. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE FILE TO SHOW WHAT THE $124 REPRESENTS. IF THIS IS THE USUAL MONTHLY PAYMENT ON THE RESIDENCE AT ALTON PENDING SALE THEREOF, THE FACT THAT THE HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS REMAINED THEREIN PENDING THE SALE AND/OR PURCHASE OF A RESIDENCE MAY NOT SERVE AS A BASIS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF ANY PART THEREOF FOR STORAGE UNDER THE QUOTED PROVISIONS OF CIRCULAR A-56.

SINCE THE FILE INDICATES THAT HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF THE EMPLOYEE WEIGHING 6,800 POUNDS REMAINED IN THE U-HAUL TRUCK AND TRAILER AT THE NEW DUTY STATION FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO UNLOADING AND THE COST THEREOF APPEARS TO BE LESS THAN THE COST OF STORAGE ON A COMMUTED BASIS AS AUTHORIZED BY CIRCULAR NO. A-56, THAT PART OF THE CLAIM FOR $24 MAY BE ALLOWED. SEE 29 COMP. GEN. 399.

ACTION ON THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH SHOULD BE TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREGOING.