[Decision Concerning Interior Employee's Claim for Reimbursement for Expenses Involved in Relocating Mobile Home]

The Bureau of Reclamation requested a decision concerning a transferred employee's claim for full reimbursement for expenses he incurred in relocating his mobile home. The Bureau allowed the shipping expenses, but limited reimbursement for leveling, blocking, and connection of utilities to the maximum rate for miscellaneous expense allowances. The employee contended that characterizing such expenses as miscellaneous was unreasonable, because: (1) the expenses were substantial and necessary to the relocation of his mobile home; and (2) he was left with no allowance for actual miscellaneous expenses, such as automobile registration and telephone service. The employee also suggested amending the regulations to provide separate reimbursement for mobile home relocation expenses. GAO noted that the applicable regulations: (1) specifically prohibited reimbursement of civilian employees for costs incurred before and after actual shipment of a mobile home, except as miscellaneous expenses; (2) defined transportation costs in the case of transferred military personnel to include all costs necessarily incurred in relocating a mobile home; and (3) were inconsistent with congressional intent that service members and civilian employees have the same entitlement to reimbursement. GAO held that: (1) the Bureau properly settled the claim under current regulations; (2) there was sufficient statutory authority to permit amendment as the employee suggested; and (3) transportation costs may properly include the costs of preparing a mobile home for shipment as well as the costs of installing the home at the new site. Accordingly, GAO: (1) overruled in part a decision it had issued in a similar instance; and (2) recommended that the applicable regulations be amended.