B-156597, MAY 7, 1965
Highlights
THE EMPLOYEE WAS ORDERED TO REPORT TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION ON OCTOBER 7. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS SHIPPED SEPARATELY FROM MELROSE PARK. WHICH AMOUNT WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY SUSPENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL VOUCHER AS THE REFRIGERATOR WAS CONSIDERED TO BE PROPERTY ACQUIRED EN ROUTE. YOUR QUESTION IS AS FOLLOWS: "INASMUCH AS THE DOWN PAYMENT ON THE REFRIGERATOR WAS MADE ON JUNE 15. IS THE REFRIGERATOR TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF MR. THE RULE IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IS LIMITED TO THOSE EFFECTS OWNED BY THE EMPLOYEE ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE OF STATION ORDERS. 24 COMP. SINCE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT PURCHASED UNTIL JUNE 15. WHICH WAS AFTER THE DATE OF THE EMPLOYEE'S CHANGE OF STATION ON OCTOBER 7.
B-156597, MAY 7, 1965
TO MR. JOHN H. GREVE, DEFENSE LOGISTICS SERVICES CENTER, BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN:
YOUR LETTER OF APRIL 20, 1965, WITH ENCLOSURES, REFERENCE DLSC-FFA, REQUESTS OUR DECISION WHETHER YOU MAY CERTIFY FOR PAYMENT A SUPPLEMENTAL VOUCHER TRANSMITTED THEREWITH FOR $12.48, IN FAVOR OF MR. FRANK R. FALETICH, COVERING TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES INCIDENT TO A PERMANENT CHANGE OF STATION.
TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION NO. TB15229, DATED OCTOBER 3, 1962, AUTHORIZED THE TRAVEL OF MR. FALETICH AND HIS DEPENDENTS, AND TRANSPORTATION OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS FROM KENOSHA, WISCONSIN, TO BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN. THE EMPLOYEE WAS ORDERED TO REPORT TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION ON OCTOBER 7, 1962, AND THE RECORD SHOWS THAT HE DID IN FACT ARRIVE IN BATTLE CREEK ON OCTOBER 7, 1962.
ON JUNE 18, 1963, THE EMPLOYEE SHIPPED 6,520 POUNDS OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS TO HIS NEW DUTY STATION FOR WHICH REIMBURSEMENT HAS BEEN MADE AT THE COMMUTED RATE. THAT SHIPMENT DID NOT INCLUDE A NEW REFRIGERATOR WHICH THE EMPLOYEE HAD PURCHASED ON JUNE 15, 1963. THE REFRIGERATOR WAS SHIPPED SEPARATELY FROM MELROSE PARK, ILLINOIS, TO BATTLE CREEK ON JULY 3, 1963, AT A COST OF $12.48, WHICH AMOUNT WAS ADMINISTRATIVELY SUSPENDED FROM THE ORIGINAL VOUCHER AS THE REFRIGERATOR WAS CONSIDERED TO BE PROPERTY ACQUIRED EN ROUTE. YOUR QUESTION IS AS FOLLOWS:
"INASMUCH AS THE DOWN PAYMENT ON THE REFRIGERATOR WAS MADE ON JUNE 15, 1963 THREE DAYS PRIOR TO THE LOADING OF THE HOUSEHOLD GOODS FOR SHIPMENT ON JUNE 18, 1963, IS THE REFRIGERATOR TO BE CONSIDERED AS PART OF MR. FALETICH'S HOUSEHOLD GOODS AT THE TIME?
SECTION 1.9 OF BUREAU OF THE BUDGET CIRCULAR NO. A-56, EFFECTIVE JUNE 1, 1962, SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITS THE ALLOWANCE OF EXPENSES OF TRANSPORTING PROPERTY ACQUIRED EN ROUTE. MOREOVER, THE RULE IS WELL ESTABLISHED THAT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT FOR SHIPMENT OF HOUSEHOLD EFFECTS IS LIMITED TO THOSE EFFECTS OWNED BY THE EMPLOYEE ON THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CHANGE OF STATION ORDERS. 24 COMP. GEN. 69, 27 ID. 171, B-133474, SEPTEMBER 3, 1957 (COPY ENCLOSED). SINCE THE REFRIGERATOR WAS NOT PURCHASED UNTIL JUNE 15, 1963, WHICH WAS AFTER THE DATE OF THE EMPLOYEE'S CHANGE OF STATION ON OCTOBER 7, 1962, REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION THEREOF IS NOT AUTHORIZED. ACCORDINGLY, THE VOUCHER, WHICH IS RETURNED HEREWITH, MAY NOT BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.