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B-164366, AUG. 16, 1968

B-164366 Aug 16, 1968
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STABER WAS AUTHORIZED ROUND- TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN WASHINGTON. HE WAS AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER DAY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5702 (C). INCLUDED IN SUCH BILL WERE SEPARATE CHARGES FOR BEVERAGES TOTALING $8.68. SINCE THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE BEVERAGES WERE OF ALCOHOLIC CONTENT. NO REIMBURSEMENT THEREFOR WAS ALLOWED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE. STABER POINTS OUT THAT THE BEVERAGES WERE CONSUMED WITH HIS MEALS IN THE HOTEL DINING ROOM AND. YOU HAVE REQUESTED OUR DECISION IN THE MATTER. PROVIDES IN PART AS FOLLOWS: "AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL WILL BE LIMITED TO SPECIFIC TRAVEL ASSIGNMENTS WHERE DUE TO THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ASSIGNMENT THE MAXIMUM PER DIEM ALLOWANCE WOULD BE MUCH LESS THAN THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO MEET THE NECESSARY SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES OF A TRAVELER. * * *" SUBSECTION 6.12C OF THE SAME REGULATIONS PROVIDES IN PART: "ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS.

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B-164366, AUG. 16, 1968

TO MR. DALE L. ROTHROCK:

YOUR LETTER OF MAY 15, 1968, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTS OUR DECISION AS TO THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A RECLAIM VOUCHER FOR $8.68 IN FAVOR OF MR. GEORGE I. STABER, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

BY TRAVEL ORDER DATED NOVEMBER 27, 1967, MR. STABER WAS AUTHORIZED ROUND- TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN WASHINGTON, D.C., AND ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ATTENDING THE HEW LIMESTONE SYMPOSIUM. HE WAS AUTHORIZED REIMBURSEMENT OF ACTUAL SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES NOT TO EXCEED $30 PER DAY UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5702 (C).

IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 6.12F OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, MR. STABER SUBMITTED A COPY OF HIS HOTEL BILL WHICH CONTAINED AN ITEMIZATION OF HIS DAILY EXPENSES FOR ROOM AND MEALS. INCLUDED IN SUCH BILL WERE SEPARATE CHARGES FOR BEVERAGES TOTALING $8.68. SINCE THE EVIDENCE INDICATED THAT THE BEVERAGES WERE OF ALCOHOLIC CONTENT, NO REIMBURSEMENT THEREFOR WAS ALLOWED BY THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE.

MR. STABER POINTS OUT THAT THE BEVERAGES WERE CONSUMED WITH HIS MEALS IN THE HOTEL DINING ROOM AND, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS PROPER ITEMS OF SUBSISTENCE. SINCE THE TRAVEL REGULATIONS APPEAR TO BE SILENT ON THE SUBJECT OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES, YOU HAVE REQUESTED OUR DECISION IN THE MATTER.

SUBSECTION 6.12B (1) OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS, RELATING TO THE AUTHORIZATION OF ACTUAL SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES, PROVIDES IN PART AS FOLLOWS:

"AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL WILL BE LIMITED TO SPECIFIC TRAVEL ASSIGNMENTS WHERE DUE TO THE UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE ASSIGNMENT THE MAXIMUM PER DIEM ALLOWANCE WOULD BE MUCH LESS THAN THE AMOUNT REQUIRED TO MEET THE NECESSARY SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES OF A TRAVELER. * * *" SUBSECTION 6.12C OF THE SAME REGULATIONS PROVIDES IN PART:

"ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS. HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND ESTABLISHMENTS WILL ESTABLISH NECESSARY ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS FOR AN APPROPRIATE REVIEW OF * * * (2) THE SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES CLAIMED BY A TRAVELER IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THAT THEY ARE PROPER SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES AND WERE NECESSARILY INCURRED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SPECIFIC TRAVEL ASSIGNMENT.

THE TERM "SUBSISTENCE" IS DEFINED IN SUBSECTION 5701 (3) OF TITLE 5, U.S.C. AS FOLLOWS:

"-SUBSISTENCE- MEANS LODGING, MEALS, AND OTHER NECESSARY EXPENSES FOR THE PERSONAL SUSTENANCE AND COMFORT OF THE TRAVELER; "

IT IS CLEAR THAT THE STATUTE AND IMPLEMENTING REGULATIONS CONTEMPLATE REIMBURSEMENT ONLY FOR ITEMS ESSENTIAL OR INDISPENSABLE TO SUBSISTENCE. WE CANNOT REGARD ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES FOR WHICH A SEPARATE CHARGE IS MADE, INCLUDING THOSE CONSUMED WITH MEALS, AS FALLING WITHIN SUCH A CATEGORY.

THEREFORE, ON THE PRESENT RECORD, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

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