GSA raises per diem rate in 17 cities

Per diem rates for 12 states will increase next month after the General Service Administration concluded that rates in those areas were not high enough.

The rate change starts May 6 and will apply to all employees traveling on government business to 17 locations, according to an April 26 notice in the Federal Register. Per diem rates cover lodging as well as meals and incidental expenses.

States affected by the per diem changes are: Arizona, Florida, Maryland, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington.

GSA last adjusted the rates on Aug. 31, 2004, when the agency lowered the maximum per diem rate for several major cities.

Cities affected by the April 26 change are: Grand Canyon, Ariz.; Pensacola, Fla.; Hagerstown, Md.; St. Robert, Mo.; Newark, N.J.; Los Alamos, N.M.; Binghamton and West Point, N.Y.; Shallotte, N.C.; Canton, Mentor, Rittman and Youngstown, Ohio; Chambersburg and Chester, Pa.; Wintergreen, Va.; and Seattle, Wash.

A complete listing of GSA's per diem rates can be found on its Web site.