Federal employees can spend more money on lodging and travel expenses in five locations, under per diem rate changes the General Services Administration announced Monday.
GSA announced per diem rate hikes for Saginaw County, Mich.; Tom's River, N.J.; Syracuse, N.Y.; Charleston, S.C.; and Shepherdstown, W. Va. The higher rates took effect Monday, Apr. 5.
In Charleston, the maximum lodging rate was raised from $64 a night to $95 a night, with the maximum meals and incidental expenses rate remaining at $42 a day.
In the other four locations, GSA decided that the standard maximum per diem rates for the continental United States-$50 for lodging and $30 for meals and incidental expenses"did not adequately cover travel costs.
The new maximum per diem rates for those four locations are:
- In Saginaw County (including city of Frankenmuth), $64 for lodging, $34 for meals and incidental expenses.
- In Tom's River (Ocean County), seasonal rates apply. From June 1 to Sept. 30, $69 for lodging, $38 for meals and incidental expenses. From Oct. 1 to May 31, $50 for lodging, $38 for meals and incidental expenses.
- In Syracuse (Onondaga County), $70 for lodging, $34 for meals and incidental expenses.
- In Shepherdstown (Jefferson County), $65 for lodging, $38 for meals and incidental expenses.
GSA announced the new rates in the Apr. 5 Federal Register.
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