B-163650, MAR. 26, 1968
Highlights
MOSLEY: THIS IS IN REPLY TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 16. DEAN'S CLAIM FOR $378.68 WAS DISALLOWED ADMINISTRATIVELY IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT ALLOWABLE FOR MISCELLANEO EXPENSES UNDER SECTION 3.2A (1) OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A 56 AND WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY PAID BILLS OR OTHER ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED. NEWSPAPERS AND NEW FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE EXPENSES INCURRED BECAUSE OF PERSONAL TASTE OR PREFERENCE. TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES FOR HOUSE HUNTING ARE LIMITED TO THOSE PROVIDED IN OTHER SECTIONS OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET REGULATIONS AND ARE NOT ALLOWABLE AS MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES. REPAIRS TO THE CLOTHES DRYER AND WASHER UPON ARRIVAL AT THE NEW RESIDENCE ARE NOT EXPENSES ARISING FROM THE CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING OF APPLIANCES.
B-163650, MAR. 26, 1968
TO MRS. MARY L. MOSLEY:
THIS IS IN REPLY TO YOUR LETTER OF FEBRUARY 16, 1968, 54-27, REFERENCE CSS-Z-2 352 256 JFM, ENCLOSING A RECLAIM VOUCHER OF MR. ROGER L. DEAN, AN EMPLOYEE OF THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, REQUESTING PAYMENT OF MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES UNDER SECTION 24 OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES ACT OF 1946, AS ADDED BY SECTION 2 OF PUBLIC LAW 89-516, 80 STAT. 323, NOW 5 U.S.C. 5724A (B), IN CONNECTION WITH A CHANGE OF DUTY STATION FROM TOPEKA, KANSAS, TO WASHINGTON, D.C.
MR. DEAN'S CLAIM FOR $378.68 WAS DISALLOWED ADMINISTRATIVELY IN ITS ENTIRETY BECAUSE IT EXCEEDED THE AMOUNT ALLOWABLE FOR MISCELLANEO EXPENSES UNDER SECTION 3.2A (1) OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A 56 AND WAS NOT SUPPORTED BY PAID BILLS OR OTHER ACCEPTABLE EVIDENCE OF THE EXPENSES INCURRED.
MR. DEAN HAS CLAIMED SOME 42 ITEMS AS MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES IN CONNECTION WITH THE TRANSFER. SUCH ITEMS AS PHONE CALLS, NEWSPAPERS AND NEW FURNISHINGS AND EQUIPMENT ARE CONSIDERED TO BE EXPENSES INCURRED BECAUSE OF PERSONAL TASTE OR PREFERENCE. SEE SECTION 3.1C OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56. TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES FOR HOUSE HUNTING ARE LIMITED TO THOSE PROVIDED IN OTHER SECTIONS OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET REGULATIONS AND ARE NOT ALLOWABLE AS MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES. SECTION 3.1C (10) OF CIRCULAR NO. A-56. ALSO, SEE B-162320, SEPTEMBER 18, 1967 (COPY ENCLOSED).
REPAIRS TO THE CLOTHES DRYER AND WASHER UPON ARRIVAL AT THE NEW RESIDENCE ARE NOT EXPENSES ARISING FROM THE CONNECTING OR DISCONNECTING OF APPLIANCES. SUCH ITEMS ARE CONSIDERED TO HAVE BEEN DAMAGED EN ROUTE OR TO HAVE BECOME DEFECTIVE OR WORN AND THE COSTS OF REPAIRS ARE NOT REIMBURSABLE. SEE SECTIONS 3.1C (9) AND 3.1C (12) OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56.
SERVICING APPLIANCES PRIOR TO MOVING IS CONSIDERED AN EXPENSE OF TRANSPORTATION FOR WHICH MR. DEAN HAS BEEN REIMBURSED ON A COMMUTED BASIS. SEE GENERALLY B-142377, APRIL 6, 1960 (COPY ENCLOSED). PERSONAL PROPERTY LEFT BEHIND SUCH AS THE PAINT IS NOT A REIMBURSABLE ITEM. SEE SECTION 3.1C (8) OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56.
THE ONLY ALLOWABLE ITEMS ARE THE ELECTRICIAN'S SERVICE CALL UPON ARRIVAL AT THE NEW RESIDENCE TO CHECK THE WIRING ON THE DRYER ($8.00), WHICH MIGHT CONCEIVABLY BE IN CONNECTION WITH ASCERTAINING IF THE MACHINE WAS ADAPTABLE TO THE EXISTING UTILITIES, FITTING OF CARPETS ($6.00), CAR LICENSES ($16.67), CAR REGISTRATION AND NOTARY FEE ($6.00), DRIVERS' LICENSES ($12.00), VEHICLE INSPECTION ($1.00), TELEPHONE INSTALLATION ($8.00), AND WATER DEPOSIT ($5.00), TOTALING $62.67.
HOWEVER, WE HAVE HELD THAT AN EMPLOYEE WITH A FAMILY IS ENTITLED TO AN ALLOWANCE OF $200 FOR MISCELLANEOUS EXPENSES WITHOUT ITEMIZATION AS LONG AS SOME EXPENSE IS INCURRED. SEE B-161304, MAY 4, 1967 (COPY ENCLOSED), AND SECTION 3.2A (1), BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A 56. ACCORDINGLY, THE CLAIM MAY BE ALLOWED IN THIS AMOUNT.