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B-163449, MAR. 4, 1968

B-163449 Mar 04, 1968
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ACCESSORIES FOR HOME AT NEW STATION IS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT UNDER SECTION 3.1B (2) OF BOB CIR. A-56 WHICH CONTEMPLATES THE MODIFICATION OF FURNISHINGS WHICH WERE USED AT THE OLD RESIDENCE TO ACCOMODATE THE NEW HOME RATHER THAN THE PURCHASE OF NEW FURNISHINGS. ALTHOUGH A CHARGE FOR CONNECTING A WASHING MACHINE IS A REIMBURSABLE ITEM UNDER SEC. 3.1C (12) THE COST OF INSTALLATION OF PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS FOR A WASHER AND DRYER ARE CHARGES REPRESENTING STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND REMODELING AND ARE THEREFORE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED. 900 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS WHICH WERE PLACED IN STORAGE IN FALLS CHURCH. OF THE AMOUNT CLAIMED BY HIM $4.90 REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HE ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE STORAGE AND WHAT HE WAS ACTUALLY REIMBURSED.

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B-163449, MAR. 4, 1968

EMPLOYEES - TRANSFERS - PUBLIC LAW 89-516 - NEW FURNISHINGS AND INSTALLATION EXPENSES EMPLOYEE WHO PURCHASED NEW RUG, DRAPES, AND ACCESSORIES FOR HOME AT NEW STATION IS NOT ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT UNDER SECTION 3.1B (2) OF BOB CIR. NO. A-56 WHICH CONTEMPLATES THE MODIFICATION OF FURNISHINGS WHICH WERE USED AT THE OLD RESIDENCE TO ACCOMODATE THE NEW HOME RATHER THAN THE PURCHASE OF NEW FURNISHINGS. ALTHOUGH A CHARGE FOR CONNECTING A WASHING MACHINE IS A REIMBURSABLE ITEM UNDER SEC. 3.1C (12) THE COST OF INSTALLATION OF PLUMBING AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS FOR A WASHER AND DRYER ARE CHARGES REPRESENTING STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND REMODELING AND ARE THEREFORE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED.

TO MR. BOBBY L. FURR:

THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF JANUARY 29, 1968, REQUESTING A DECISION CONCERNING THE PROPRIETY OF CERTIFYING FOR PAYMENT A VOUCHER, TRANSMITTED THEREWITH IN FAVOR OF MR. LAVOY T. JONES, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE, IN THE AMOUNT OF $124.50, REPRESENTING MISCELLANEOUS AND TEMPORARY STORAGE EXPENSES INCURRED INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION.

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT MR. JONES SHIPPED 10,900 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS WHICH WERE PLACED IN STORAGE IN FALLS CHURCH, VIRGINIA, FROM JULY 3 TO AUGUST 2, 1967, AT A COST OF $381.50. OF THE AMOUNT CLAIMED BY HIM $4.90 REPRESENTS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHAT HE ACTUALLY PAID FOR THE STORAGE AND WHAT HE WAS ACTUALLY REIMBURSED. SECTION 6.4 OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, REVISED OCTOBER 12, 1966, AUTHORIZES REIMBURSEMENT OF THE COST OF TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS OF A TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SCHEDULES OF COMMUTED RATES WHICH ARE COMPILED AND DISTRIBUTED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION. SECTION 2 OF GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BULLETIN FPMR NO. A-2, ATTACHMENT A, SUPPLEMENT NO. 9, CONTAINING COMMUTED RATES FOR THE TEMPORARY STORAGE OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS AUTHORIZES REIMBURSEMENT OF $3.50 PER HUNDRED POUNDS FOR THE FIRST 30 DAYS OF 10,900 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD GOODS IN FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA, FOR A TOTAL OF $381.50.

THEREFORE, MR. JONES WOULD BE ENTITLED TO THE ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF $4.90 FOR THE STORAGE OF HIS HOUSEHOLD GOODS. HE IS ALSO ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT OF THE AMOUNT OF $10.95 FOR THE INSTALLATION OF HIS WASHER UNDER SECTION 3.1B (1) OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A 56, REVISED OCTOBER 12, 1966.

WITH RESPECT TO THE BALANCE OF HIS CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE PURCHASE OF A NEW RUG, NEW DRAPES AND ACCESSORIES FOR THE NEW RESIDENCE SECTION 3.1B (2) OF THE REGULATIONS PROVIDES FOR THE COST OF MODIFYING DRAPES AND RUGS ALREADY IN USE AT THE OLD RESIDENCE IN ORDER TO ACCOMMODATE THEM TO THE NEW RESIDENCE. HOWEVER, THE REGULATIONS DO NOT CONTEMPLATE UNDERWRITING THE EXPENSE OF AN ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF FURNISHINGS FOR THE NEW RESIDENCE. NEITHER WOULD THERE BE ANY AUTHORITY TO REIMBURSE MR. JONES FOR THE PURCHASE OF SHELF LINING OR PICTURE HANGERS FOR USE AT THE NEW RESIDENCE. ACCORDINGLY, REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THOSE ITEMS MAY NOT BE ALLOWED.

IT IS NOTED THAT MR. JONES WAS REIMBURSED $85 FOR INSTALLATION OF PLUMBING FOR A WASHER AND DRYER, AND $94.50 FOR INSTALLING ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS TO HOOK UP APPLIANCES. THESE ITEMS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 3.1C (12) OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, PROHIBITING REIMBURSEMENT FOR COSTS OF STRUCTURAL ALTERATIONS AND REMODELING OR MODERNIZING OF LIVING QUARTERS TO ACCOMMODATE APPLIANCES. SEE B-161562, DATED NOVEMBER 2, 1967 (COPY ENCLOSED). THE DENIAL OF THESE TWO ITEMS WOULD CAUSE THE TOTAL OF MR. JONES' MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES TO FALL BELOW THE $200 WHICH OTHERWISE IS ALLOWABLE UNDER SECTION 3.2A (1) OF THE CIRCULAR. THEREFORE, HE SHOULD ONLY BE REQUIRED TO REFUND AN AMOUNT WHICH WILL RESULT IN CREDIT BEING GIVEN FOR THE $200 ALLOWANCE.

ACTION ON THE VOUCHER WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH SHOULD BE TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOREGOING.

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