B-168829, MAR. 11, 1970
Highlights
NOTWITHSTANDING TOTAL CLAIMED FOR 6 ROUND TRIPS IS LESS THAN CONSTRUCTIVE COST OF 1 ROUND TRIP WITH PER DIEM FOR 6 CALENDAR DAYS. WE ARE ADDRESSING OUR DECISION TO YOU. WERE AUTHORIZED ROUND TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN THOSE TWO POINTS FOR NOT TO EXCEED SIX DAYS. SINCE THE TOTAL AMOUNT CLAIMED FOR THE SIX ROUND TRIPS ($147.60) IS LESS THAN THE CONSTRUCTIVE COST OF ONE ROUND TRIP WITH PER DIEM FOR SIX CALENDAR DAYS ($185.60). THE EMPLOYEE BELIEVES THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE FULL AMOUNT CLAIMED. WE HAVE HELD THAT UNDER THOSE PROVISIONS AN EMPLOYEE MAY BE AUTHORIZED ONLY ONE ROUND TRIP AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE INCIDENT TO EACH CHANGE OF OFFICIAL STATION. WE HAVE RULED THAT NO PER DIEM MAY BE ALLOWED FOR TIME SPENT AT THE NEW OFFICIAL STATION AFTER COMPLETION OF THE SINGLE AUTHORIZED TRIP.
B-168829, MAR. 11, 1970
OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES--TRANSFERS--RELOCATION EXPENSES--TRANSPORTATION FOR HOUSE HUNTING--"ONE ROUND TRIP" LIMITATION TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE AND WIFE, AUTHORIZED ROUND-TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN COLLEGE PARK, MD; AND HARRISBURG, PA; NOT TO EXCEED 6 DAYS, FOR HOUSEHUNTING, MADE 5 ROUND TRIPS OF 1 DAY EACH AND 1 ROUND TRIP OF 2 DAYS. EMPLOYEE MAY BE PAID MILEAGE AND PER DIEM ONLY FOR ROUND TRIP AUG. 17, 1968, NOTWITHSTANDING TOTAL CLAIMED FOR 6 ROUND TRIPS IS LESS THAN CONSTRUCTIVE COST OF 1 ROUND TRIP WITH PER DIEM FOR 6 CALENDAR DAYS, SINCE GAO HAS HELD THAT UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5724A (A) (2) AND SEC. 2.4, BOB CIR. NO. A-56, EMPLOYEE MAY BE AUTHORIZED ONLY 1 ROUND TRIP FOR HOUSEHUNTING. PER DIEM MAY BE ALLOWED FOR TIME SPENT AT NEW OFFICIAL STATION AFTER COMPLETION OF SINGLE AUTHORIZED TRIP. SEE 47 COMP. GEN. 189 AND B-166414, APR. 9, 1969.
TO MR. EDWARD L. ROGERS:
WE REFER TO LETTER OF JANUARY 19, 1970, FROM MR. VLADIMIR OLEYNIK, DIRECTOR, ACCOUNTING AND PAYROLL SERVICES, REQUESTING OUR DECISION WHETHER A VOUCHER FOR $147.60 IN FAVOR OF MR. DONALD A. SNOW MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT. IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS OF 31 U.S.C. 74 AND 82D, WE ARE ADDRESSING OUR DECISION TO YOU.
IN CONNECTION WITH SEEKING A PERMANENT RESIDENCE PURSUANT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION FROM COLLEGE PARK, MARYLAND, TO HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, MR. SNOW AND HIS WIFE, BY TRAVEL ORDER DATED AUGUST 26, 1968, WERE AUTHORIZED ROUND TRIP TRAVEL BETWEEN THOSE TWO POINTS FOR NOT TO EXCEED SIX DAYS. THE VOUCHER SHOWS THAT THE EMPLOYEE AND HIS WIFE MADE FIVE SEPARATE ROUND TRIPS INVOLVING ONE DAY EACH AND ONE ROUND TRIP INVOLVING TWO DAYS. HE HAS CLAIMED MILEAGE AT THE RATE OF 8 CENTS FOR EACH ROUND TRIP OF 220 MILES FOR A TOTAL OF $105.60 AND PER DIEM OF $42 FOR HIMSELF AND HIS WIFE FOR SIX QUARTERS. SINCE THE TOTAL AMOUNT CLAIMED FOR THE SIX ROUND TRIPS ($147.60) IS LESS THAN THE CONSTRUCTIVE COST OF ONE ROUND TRIP WITH PER DIEM FOR SIX CALENDAR DAYS ($185.60), THE EMPLOYEE BELIEVES THAT HE IS ENTITLED TO BE PAID THE FULL AMOUNT CLAIMED.
SUBSECTION 5724A (A) (2) OF TITLE 5, U.S.C. AND SECTION 2.4 OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56 GOVERN THE PAYMENT OF EXPENSES INCURRED WHILE SEEKING RESIDENCE QUARTERS AT A NEW OFFICIAL STATION. WE HAVE HELD THAT UNDER THOSE PROVISIONS AN EMPLOYEE MAY BE AUTHORIZED ONLY ONE ROUND TRIP AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE INCIDENT TO EACH CHANGE OF OFFICIAL STATION. FURTHER, WE HAVE RULED THAT NO PER DIEM MAY BE ALLOWED FOR TIME SPENT AT THE NEW OFFICIAL STATION AFTER COMPLETION OF THE SINGLE AUTHORIZED TRIP. SEE 47 COMP. GEN. 189 (1967) AND B-166414, APRIL 9, 1969, COPIES ENCLOSED.
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREGOING, MR. SNOW MAY BE PAID MILEAGE AND PER DIEM ONLY FOR THE ROUND TRIP MADE ON AUGUST 17, 1968. THE VOUCHER, WHICH MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, IS RETURNED HEREWITH.