Ten more cities will get non-standard travel reimbursement rates

The General Services Administration has decided to designate 10 additional cities as “nonstandard” areas for travel reimbursement rates, according to an announcement posted in the Federal Register on Wednesday.  

The designation means the regions -- frequently traveled by government employees -- will get unique per diem rates rather than being lumped together with the rest of the country. The reimbursement levels will be determined by the average daily industry rate. In August, GSA announced it was freezing fiscal 2013 per diems at fiscal 2012 levels.

The standard lodging rate, which covers hotels in 2,600 counties nationwide, is currently $77 a night and the standard per diem meal rate is $46. Nonstandard rates vary according to region and time of year. For example, fiscal 2012 lodging rates for Washington range from $183 to $226; in New York City, the lodging per diem ranges from $204 to $295. The 2012 per diem meal and incidental expenses rate for Washington and for New York City is $71.

The new nonstandard areas are: Bakersfield/Ridgecrest, Calif.; Stockton, Calif.; Hancock and Pearl River Counties, Miss.; Sidney/Glendive, Mont.; Dickinson/Beulah, N.D.; Minot, N.D.; Williston, N.D.; Carlsbad, N.M.; Watertown, N.Y.; Pasco, Wash.

Rates for each specific area can be found on the GSA’s website. The fiscal 2013 rates take effect on Oct. 1.

(Image via michaeljung /Shutterstock.com)