B-110435, AUGUST 5, 1952, 32 COMP. GEN. 74

B-110435, AUGUST 5, 1952, 32 COMP. GEN. 74

MILEAGE - TRAVEL BY PRIVATELY OWNED AUTOMOBILE - PARKING FEES EMPLOYEES WHO RECEIVE REIMBURSEMENT ON A MILEAGE BASIS FOR THE USE OF THEIR PERSONALLY OWNED CARS FOR OFFICIAL TRAVEL ASSUME ALL THE EXPENSE OF OPERATING THE CARS, INCLUDING PARKING FEES, REPAIRS, ETC., AND THEREFORE, EMPLOYEES WHO PERFORM OFFICIAL TRAVEL IN THE VICINITY OF THEIR OFFICIAL STATION AND WHO REPORT TO AND WORK A PORTION OF EACH DAY AT SUCH STATION MAY NOT BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAILY COST OF PARKING AT PRIVATELY OWNED PARKING LOTS AT THEIR OFFICIAL STATION.

L WARREN TO THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY, AUGUST 5, 1952:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF JUNE 19, 1952, REQUESTING A DECISION AS TO WHETHER CERTAIN EMPLOYEES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ARE ENTITLED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR DAILY EXPENSES WHICH THEY INCUR FOR PARKING THEIR AUTOMOBILES ON PRIVATELY OWNED PARKING LOTS, WHILE ON DUTY AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE OF THE AUTHORITY LOCATED IN THE LASALLE BUILDING, CONNECTICUT AVENUE AND L STREET NW., WASHINGTON, D.C.

IT IS STATED IN YOUR LETTER THAT THE NATIONAL CAPITAL HOUSING AUTHORITY IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO INVESTIGATE THE HOUSING CONDITIONS OF ITS APPLICANTS, AND THAT AT THE PRESENT TIME SUCH INVESTIGATIONS ARE MADE BY THREE INSPECTORS WHO ARE TEMPORARY APPOINTEES. ALSO, IT IS STATED THAT THESE INSPECTORS REPORT TO AND WORK A PORTION OF EACH DAY IN THE CENTRAL OFFICE ( LASALLE BUILDING), AND THAT "HOME VISITS ARE BUT ONE OF SEVEN DIFFERENT STEPS IN PREPARING APPLICATIONS FOR FINAL ASSIGNMENT.' PARAGRAPH 3 OF YOUR LETTER READS, IN PART, AS FOLLOWS:

IN ORDER TO EFFICIENTLY MAKE THE HOME VISITS, THESE INSPECTORS ARE USING THEIR PERSONAL AUTOMOBILES FOR WHICH THE AUTHORITY IS REIMBURSING THEM ON A MILEAGE BASIS. * * * CONSEQUENTLY, IT IS NECESSARY FOR THESE INSPECTORS TO USE PRIVATE PARKING LOTS AND PAY THE PARKING FEES FROM THEIR OWN POCKETS. THESE FEES RANGE FROM 75 CENTS TO $1.00. IT DOES NOT WHICH HAS BEEN DETERMINED BY THE AUTHORITY TO BE AN ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSE IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFICIAL DUTIES OF THESE INSPECTORS, SHOULD BE PERSONALLY PAID BY THE INSPECTORS. HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY FINDS NO SPECIFIC AUTHORIZATION FOR MAKING REIMBURSEMENT TO THE INSPECTORS FOR THESE PARKING COSTS. IN EXAMINING THE DECISIONS OF YOUR OFFICE, IT APPEARS THAT SUCH COSTS ARE NOT OBJECTIONABLE TO YOU, IF THEY ARE DETERMINED TO BE ADMINISTRATIVE COSTS. BEFORE MAKING REIMBURSEMENT IN THESE CASES, HOWEVER, THE AUTHORITY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE THE BENEFIT OF YOUR OPINION.

IT IS PARTICULARLY NOTED THAT THE EXPENSE REFERRED TO HEREIN REPRESENTS THE COST OF DAYTIME PARKING FACILITIES OPERATED IN THE VICINITY OF THE AGENCY'S CENTRAL OFFICE, AND FROM THE FACTS SET FORTH IN YOUR LETTER IT IS ASSUMED THAT THE MAJOR PORTION OF THE SERVICES RENDERED BY THESE EMPLOYEES IS PERFORMED AT THE CENTRAL OFFICE.

THE ALLOWANCE OF MILEAGE TO AN EMPLOYEE FOR THE USE OF HIS PERSONALLY OWNED AUTOMOBILE ON OFFICIAL TRAVEL AS AUTHORIZED BY THE TRAVEL EXPENSE ACT OF 1949, 63 STAT. 166, IS A COMMUTATION OF THE EXPENSE OF OPERATING SUCH AUTOMOBILE, AND PRECLUDES ANY ADDITIONAL ALLOWANCE ON AN ACTUAL EXPENSE BASIS, EXCEPT FERRY FARES, AND BRIDGE, ROAD, AND TUNNEL TOLLS. THAT IS TO SAY, WHERE AN EMPLOYEE RECEIVES REIMBURSEMENT ON A MILEAGE BASIS FOR THE USE OF HIS PERSONALLY OWNED CAR, HE ASSUMES ALL THE EXPENSE OF OPERATING THE CAR, INCLUDING PARKING, REPAIRS, ETC. SEE GENERALLY 26 COMP. GEN. 286, 29 ID. 440.

UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, THIS OFFICE KNOWS OF NO AUTHORITY UNDER WHICH THE EMPLOYEES MENTIONED MAY BE REIMBURSED FOR THE DAILY COST OF PARKING THEIR PERSONALLY OWNED AUTOMOBILES AT THEIR OFFICIAL STATION. HOWEVER, IT IS SUGGESTED THAT CONSIDERATION BE GIVEN BY THE NATIONAL CAPITAL HOUSING AUTHORITY TO THE DESIRABILITY OF CONTACTING APPROPRIATE OFFICIALS OF THE GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WITH A VIEW OF OBTAINING, OR ATTEMPTING TO OBTAIN, A LIMITED NUMBER OF OFFICIAL STREET PARKING SPACES.