B-172582, AUG 3, 1971

B-172582, AUG 3, 1971

TRANSPORTATION ALLOWANCE - EXCESS COSTS - REFUND OF ADVANCE DECISION TO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (DOT) AS TO WHETHER THEY MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT A RECLAIM VOUCHER SUBMITTED BY JAMES A. BAUTZ, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE URBAN MASS TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION, REPRESENTING EXCESS COSTS COLLECTED FROM CLAIMANT INCIDENT TO DISCHARGE FROM THE U. S. NAVY. IT APPEARS FROM THE RECORD THAT MR. BAUTZ IS DUE A REFUND ON THE CLAIM. HOWEVER, THE VOUCHER SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE NAVY REGIONAL FINANCE CENTER FOR PAYMENT, AND MAY NOT BE PAID BY DOT.

TO MRS. LUELLA S. HOWARD:

FURTHER REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 6, 1971, REQUESTING A DECISION WHETHER A RECLAIM VOUCHER IN THE AMOUNT OF $62 SUBMITTED BY JAMES A. BAUTZ, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE URBAN MASS TRANSPORTATION ADMINISTRATION MAY BE CERTIFIED BY YOU FROM APPROPRIATIONS AVAILABLE TO YOUR DEPARTMENT.

THE AMOUNT CLAIMED REPRESENTS THE EXCESS COST COLLECTED FROM MR. BAUTZ ON APRIL 22, 1970, INCIDENT TO THE SHIPMENT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS UPON DISCHARGE FROM ACTIVE SERVICE WITH THE UNITED STATES NAVY, PURSUANT TO BUREAU OF NAVAL PERSONNEL ORDERS NO. 026081, DATED OCTOBER 21, 1969.

INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE TRANSMITTED FILE INCLUDES A GOVERNMENT BILL OF LADING DATED APRIL 20, 1970, WHICH SHOWS THAT A NET WEIGHT OF 4,618 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS BELONGING TO LIEUTENANT BAUTZ, CEC, USNR, WAS SHIPPED MAY 13, 1970, FROM THE ARMY MILITARY OCEAN TERMINAL AT BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, TO ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA. REMARKS ON THE BILL OF LADING SHOW THAT EXCESS COST IN THE AMOUNT OF $62 WAS DUE FROM THE OFFICER ON ACCOUNT OF EXCESS MILEAGE INCIDENT TO THE SHIPMENT OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS.

A CASH COLLECTION VOUCHER DATED APRIL 22, 1970, INITIATED BY HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY MILITARY OCEAN TERMINAL, BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, SHOWS THAT A COLLECTION IN THE AMOUNT OF $62 WAS MADE FROM MR. BAUTZ AND WAS CREDITED TO A DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY RECEIPT ACCOUNT.

ON NOVEMBER 7, 1970, MR. BAUTZ SUBMITTED A TRAVEL VOUCHER TO YOUR OFFICE CLAIMING MILEAGE, PER DIEM AND INCIDENTAL EXPENSES FOR TRAVEL BY PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLE ON MAY 1, 1970, FROM NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA, INCIDENT TO HIS APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION. HE ALSO CLAIMED A REFUND OF THE EXCESS COSTS COLLECTED FROM HIM BY THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY FOR THE ACCOUNT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY. A NOTATION STATED THAT MR. BAUTZ WAS DISCHARGED FROM THE NAVY AND ALL MOVING EXPENSES WERE PAID EXCEPT THOSE WHICH WERE THEN CLAIMED. HOWEVER, PAYMENT WAS MADE FOR MILEAGE AND OTHER TRAVEL EXPENSES ONLY.

ON MARCH 12, 1971, MR. BAUTZ FILED A SUPPLEMENTAL VOUCHER FOR REFUND OF THE $62 PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED FROM HIM. IN YOUR TRANSMITTAL LETTER DATED APRIL 6, 1971, YOU ASK WHETHER THAT VOUCHER MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

IN OUR LETTER DATED JULY 8, 1971, WE ADVISED YOU THAT IT WAS FOUND NECESSARY TO SECURE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY PERTAINING TO THE CLAIM. WE ARE NOW IN RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM THE NAVY REGIONAL FINANCE CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C., DATED JULY 15, 1971, COPY ENCLOSED, ADVISING OUR OFFICE THAT IT APPEARS A REFUND OF THE AMOUNT PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED IS DUE MR. BAUTZ.

MR. BAUTZ'S CLAIM FOR REFUND OF THE $62 IS NOT A MATTER PROPERLY FOR CONSIDERATION BY YOUR OFFICE BUT SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE NAVY REGIONAL FINANCE CENTER. THE RECLAIM VOUCHER THEREFORE MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED BY YOU FOR PAYMENT AND IT AND THE OTHER ENCLOSURES ARE RETURNED HEREWITH. MR. BAUTZ SHOULD BE ADVISED OF THE CONTENTS OF THE LETTER DATED JULY 15, 1971, AND REQUESTED TO FILE HIS CLAIM WITH THE NAVY REGIONAL FINANCE CENTER, WASHINGTON, D.C., FOR DETERMINATION BY THAT OFFICE AS TO THE PROPER REFUND THAT MAY BE DUE HIM FROM THE AMOUNT PREVIOUSLY COLLECTED.