B-166810, JUL. 17, 1969
Highlights
SINCE IT IS ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED THAT EXPENDITURE FOR TIPS WAS INCIDENT TO OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND APPROVED. YOU ASK WHETHER SUCH EXPENDITURES ARE COVERED BY SECTION 10.5 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. WILL BE ALLOWED WHEN APPROVED.'. THE EXPENDITURES INVOLVED WERE NOT MADE FOR PERSONAL SERVICES TO THE EMPLOYEE AS CONTEMPLATED BY SECTION 6.1 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDES THAT PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES INCLUDES. SINCE SUCH EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY APPROVED AS PROPER AND REASONABLE. OUR VIEW IS THAT THEY ARE COVERED BY THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 10.5. THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.
B-166810, JUL. 17, 1969
CIVIL PAY - TIPS DECISION TO CERTIFYING OFFICER OF FOREST SERVICE AUTHORIZING CERTIFICATION OF VOUCHER FOR TIPS PAID TO MOTEL EMPLOYEES FOR FURNISHING EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO PREPARE MOTEL MEETING ROOMS FOR OFFICIAL USE. SINCE IT IS ADMINISTRATIVELY DETERMINED THAT EXPENDITURE FOR TIPS WAS INCIDENT TO OFFICIAL BUSINESS AND APPROVED, THEY COME WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF SECTION 10.5 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS RELATING TO MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURES AND THEREFORE PROPERLY REIMBURSABLE.
TO MR. GEORGE D. BREITMEIER:
YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 17, 1969, REFERENCE 6540, ENCLOSES A RECLAIM VOUCHER FROM MR. EDWARD F. LITTLEHALES IN THE AMOUNT OF $9 WHICH SUM REPRESENTS TIPS TO VARIOUS MOTEL EMPLOYEES FOR FURNISHING EQUIPMENT AND SERVICES TO PREPARE MOTEL MEETING ROOMS FOR OFFICIAL USE. YOU ASK WHETHER SUCH EXPENDITURES ARE COVERED BY SECTION 10.5 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS. SECTION 10.5 READS AS FOLLOWS:
"OTHER EXPENSES.--- MISCELLANEOUS EXPENDITURES, NOT ENUMERATED HEREIN, WHEN NECESSARILY INCURRED BY THE TRAVELER IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS, WILL BE ALLOWED WHEN APPROVED.'
THE EXPENDITURES INVOLVED WERE NOT MADE FOR PERSONAL SERVICES TO THE EMPLOYEE AS CONTEMPLATED BY SECTION 6.1 OF THE STANDARDIZED GOVERNMENT TRAVEL REGULATIONS WHICH PROVIDES THAT PER DIEM IN LIEU OF SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES INCLUDES, AMONG OTHERS, ALL FEES AND TIPS TO WAITERS, PORTERS, ETC. SINCE SUCH EXPENDITURES HAVE BEEN OFFICIALLY APPROVED AS PROPER AND REASONABLE, AND AS BEING CONNECTED WITH THE TRANSACTION OF OFFICIAL BUSINESS, OUR VIEW IS THAT THEY ARE COVERED BY THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 10.5, QUOTED ABOVE. THUS, THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT, IF OTHERWISE CORRECT.