B-168260, NOV. 14, 1969

B-168260, NOV. 14, 1969

TRANSPORTATION--REQUESTS--ISSUANCE, USE, ETC.--TICKETS NOT USED EMPLOYEE WHO THROUGH NEGLIGENCE FAILED TO USE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST ISSUED AND WAS REQUIRED TO PURCHASE SUBSTITUTE AIRLINE TICKET WITH PERSONAL FUNDS INCIDENT TO TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT MAY BE REIMBURSED COST OF SUBSTITUTE TICKET PURCHASED, WHEN TRANSPORTATION REQUEST WAS NOT AVAILABLE, LESS APPLICABLE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TAX. SEE 34 COMP. GEN. 639 (1955).

TO MR. J. W. WOODARD:

REFERENCE IS MADE TO YOUR LETTER OF OCTOBER 29, 1969, REQUESTING OUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT A TRAVEL VOUCHER DATED SEPTEMBER 10, 1969, IN FAVOR OF MR. W. HOWARD ADAMS, AN EMPLOYEE OF YOUR AGENCY, IN VIEW OF THE FOLLOWING CIRCUMSTANCES.

MR. ADAMS, WHO WAS TRAVELING INCIDENT TO A TEMPORARY DUTY ASSIGNMENT, DISCOVERED UPON HIS ARRIVAL AT THE AIRPORT THAT HIS TRANSPORTATION REQUEST WAS NOT IN HIS TRAVEL FOLDER. HE, THEREFORE, PURCHASED A TICKET FROM WASHINGTON, D.C., TO NEW YORK, NEW YORK, OUT OF HIS PERSONAL FUNDS. THE VOUCHER INCLUDES AN ITEM OF $19 REPRESENTING THE PAYMENT EXCLUDING THE TRANSPORTATION TAX AND INDICATES THE TRANSPORTATION REQUEST WAS VOIDED.

IN 34 COMP. GEN. 639 (1955) WE HELD THAT AN EMPLOYEE WHO THROUGH HIS NEGLIGENCE FAILED TO USE A TICKET PREVIOUSLY ISSUED ON A TRANSPORTATION REQUEST WAS PROPERLY REIMBURSED THE COST OF A SUBSTITUTE TICKET PURCHASED WITH PERSONAL FUNDS LESS THE FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION TAX AND GOVERNMENT DISCOUNT. SINCE THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN THE INSTANT CASE ARE SIMILAR, MR. ADAMS IS ENTITLED TO REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF THE TICKET LESS THE APPLICABLE TAX INVOLVED.

ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER RETURNED HEREWITH MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT IF OTHERWISE PROPER.