[Response to Request for Advance Decision Concerning Interior Employee's Subsistence Allowance Claim]

B-218818, SEP 29, 1986

PRECIS-UNAVAILABLE

NANCY WILLIAMS:

AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE

1100 OHIO DRIVE, S.W.

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20242

THIS RESPONDS TO YOUR REQUEST FOR AN ADVANCE DECISION ON THE PAYMENT TO PARK POLICE OFFICER PEPPER KARANSKY OF A $30 PER DAY SUBSISTENCE ALLOWANCE COVERING EXPENSES INCURRED FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION FROM JANUARY 17 THROUGH JANUARY 23, 1985.

THE BACKGROUND RELATIVE TO OFFICER KARANSKY'S CLAIM FOR A $30 PER DAY ALLOWANCE IS STATED IN YOUR LETTER AS FOLLOWS:

"ARRANGEMENTS HAD BEEN MADE TO PAY THE HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS BY PURCHASE ORDER, AT THE RATE OF $65.00 PER DAY. THE TRAVEL AUTHORIZATION PROVIDED ACTUAL SUBSISTENCE NTE $30.00 PER DAY. WITH TWO OFFICERS SHARING A ROOM THIS BROUGHT EACH HOTEL EXPENSE TO $32.50 AND WITH THEIR MEAL ALLOWANCE OF $30.00, THEY WOULD NOT EXCEED THE MAXIMUM OF $75.00 FOR THE WASHINGTON AREA. SINCE OFFICER KARANSKY WAS THE ONLY FEMALE ON THIS DETAIL, SHE HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO OCCUPY A SINGLE ROOM, THIS ALLOWING HER ONLY $10.00 A DAY FOR MEALS. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS MATTER WITH MANAGEMENT AND THEY WILL REVIEW THE DETAILS IN ORDER TO AVOID THIS SITUATION FROM OCCURING IN THE NEAR FUTURE, BY HAVING TWO FEMALES ASSIGNED ON DETAILS OR NONE AT ALL.

"IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT THIS CLAIM BE ALLOWED BECAUSE OF THE FOLLOWING REASON: THE OTHER OFFICERS ON THIS DETAIL WERE ALLOWED $30.00 FOR MEALS AND OFFICER KARANSKY WAS PENALIZED FOR BEING THE ONLY FEMALE ASSIGNED TO THIS DETAIL. ***"

WHERE THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDES LODGING IN KIND FOR A NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES, THE TOTAL COST FOR SUBSISTENCE EXPENSES INCLUDING LODGING MAY NOT EXCEED THE TOTAL AMOUNT PAYABLE AS PROVIDED BY REGULATION.

ALTHOUGH ALLOWANCE OF THE INSTANT CLAIM WILL RESULT IN A RELATIVELY MINOR BREACH OF THIS GENERAL RULE, WE WILL RAISE NO OBJECTION TO PAYMENT GIVEN THE UNIQUE CIRCUMSTANCES INVOLVED.