B-161030, JUL. 5, 1967
Highlights
WHICH TRAVEL WAS NEVER APPROVED BY PROPER OFFICIALS AS REQUIRED UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5724. THE FACTS IN YOUR CASE WERE FULLY SET FORTH IN OUR OFFICE SETTLEMENT OF JANUARY 30 AND NEED NOT BE REPEATED HERE. YOUR CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT YOUR TRAVEL AND THE TRANSPORTATION OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED. WE RECENTLY HAVE RECEIVED THIS REPORT FROM THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION INFORMING US THAT IT HAD AGAIN BEEN DETERMINED NOT TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES IN QUESTION. THE FILE SHOWS THAT AN UNNUMBERED AND UNDATED TRAVEL ORDER WAS INITIATED TO SEEK APPROVAL OF THE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION INVOLVED.
B-161030, JUL. 5, 1967
TRAVEL EXPENSES - AUTHORIZATION REQUIREMENT DECISION TO GSA EMPLOYEE DENYING CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS INCIDENT TO TRANSFER IN 1963, WHICH TRAVEL WAS NEVER APPROVED BY PROPER OFFICIALS AS REQUIRED UNDER 5 U.S.C. 5724.
TO MR. MILTON F. OLSON:
THIS REFERS TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 17, 1967, WITH ENCLOSURES, REQUESTING RECONSIDERATION OF OUR OFFICE SETTLEMENT OF JANUARY 30, 1967, WHICH DISALLOWED YOUR CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES INCURRED IN OCTOBER 1963 INCIDENT TO YOUR TRANSFER FROM FORT HUACHUCA, ARIZONA, TO SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.
THE FACTS IN YOUR CASE WERE FULLY SET FORTH IN OUR OFFICE SETTLEMENT OF JANUARY 30 AND NEED NOT BE REPEATED HERE. YOUR CLAIM WAS DISALLOWED BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING IN THE RECORD TO SHOW THAT YOUR TRAVEL AND THE TRANSPORTATION OF YOUR HOUSEHOLD GOODS AT GOVERNMENT EXPENSE HAD BEEN AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED.
BY LETTER OF MAY 2, 1967, WE ADVISED YOU THAT ACTION HAD BEEN DELAYED ON YOUR CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT OF TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES INCURRED IN OCTOBER 1963, IN TRANSFERRING TO THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION BECAUSE WE HAD ASKED THAT AGENCY TO RECONSIDER ITS PREVIOUS ADVERSE RECOMMENDATION ON YOUR CLAIM AND TO FURNISH US A REPORT IN THE MATTER. WE RECENTLY HAVE RECEIVED THIS REPORT FROM THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION INFORMING US THAT IT HAD AGAIN BEEN DETERMINED NOT TO APPROVE PAYMENT OF THE EXPENSES IN QUESTION.
WITH RESPECT TO THE TRAVEL ORDER AND VOUCHER TO WHICH YOU REFER, THE FILE SHOWS THAT AN UNNUMBERED AND UNDATED TRAVEL ORDER WAS INITIATED TO SEEK APPROVAL OF THE TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION INVOLVED. HOWEVER, IT WAS NEVER SIGNED BY THE REGIONAL DIRECTOR AND THE REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR AND THUS MAY NOT BE REGARDED AS AN EFFECTIVE APPROVAL. ALSO, THE VOUCHER WAS NOT APPROVED BY THE PROPER OFFICIALS.
THE AUTHORIZING OR APPROVAL OF THE TRAVEL OF AN EMPLOYEE IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE MATTER. THE LAW (5 U.S.C. 73B-1, NOW 5 U.S.C. 5724) PERMITS ALLOWANCE OF SUCH EXPENSES ONLY WHEN "AUTHORIZED OR APPROVED BY SUCH SUBORDINANTE OFFICIAL OR OFFICIALS OF THE DEPARTMENT CONCERNED AS THE HEAD THEREOF MAY DESIGNATE;, IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH AUTHORIZATION OR APPROVAL, AND NOTWITHSTANDING THAT YOUR TRANSFER MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE GOVERNMENT, AS ALLEGED BY YOU, WE HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE BUT TO SUSTAIN THE PRIOR ACTION TAKEN IN DISALLOWING YOUR CLAIM.
CONCERNING YOUR CLAIM FOR ADDITIONAL PAY BECAUSE OF AN IMPROPER SALARY RATE UPON YOUR TRANSFER WE HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY THE GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION THAT THIS WAS PAID TO YOU ON MAY 5, 1967, IN THE AMOUNT OF $481.60.