24-A-004 FY 2024 Subsistence Allowances (Supersedes: 24-A-002)

INFORMATIONAL CIRCULAR NO.:       24-A-004                    Supersedes: 24-A-002
DATE:                        September 28, 2023
SUBJECT:               FY 2024 Subsistence Allowances
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023
CONTACT:               Statewide Agency Audit Services Team ARpreaudit@ks.gov
APPROVAL:            Nancy Ruoff (original signature on file)
SUMMARY:              FY 2024 Meals and Incidental Expense (M&IE) and Lodging       Rates for travel occurring on and after October 1, 2023
 

As authorized by K.S.A. 75-3207a, the Secretary of Administration has fixed subsistence rates for FY 2024. The U.S. General Services (GSA) has announced the CONUS standard rate for lodging and M&IE effective October 1, 2023.  The GSA standard lodging rate increases from $98.00 to $107.00. The standard M&IE rate remains $59.00.

In previous fiscal years Sedgwick County had been part of an established non-standard area (NSA) but will move into the standard CONUS rate category beginning October 1, 2023. The Lodging rate will change from $103.00 to $107.00. The Meal & Incidental (M&IE) for Sedgwick County will be the standard rate of $59.00 which is a decrease from $64.00.  

For State of Kansas travel, federal per diem rates are followed to determine subsistence allowances. The CONUS per diem rate for an area is divided into two components: the lodging allowance and the meals & incidental expense (M&IE) allowance. These per diem rates are based on travel location and travel dates (seasonal rates may be listed for some locations).  If a specific travel location is not listed (or within the location definition), the standard rate, or “other” location rate is used. The following standard rates apply to many locations across the contiguous United States (CONUS).

For CONUS locations, the following standard daily subsistence rates apply for travel which occurs on October 1, 2023 and thereafter:

The Employee Travel Expense Reimbursement Handbook is updated to include this information regarding subsistence for travel occurring on and after October 1, 2023.

SMART maintains the official subsistence rates for CONUS and OCONUS travel locations and will be updated semi-annually each October 1 and April 1 for any interim rate changes which have occurred.  International subsistence rates are not loaded into SMART.  For international travel locations, employees will obtain M&IE rates directly from the U.S. Department of State (DOS) website listed below.  For international travel, payment for actual lodging expense is allowed.

Lodging Expense Limitations:

K.S.A. 75-3207a(f) provides that the daily lodging expense limitations established may be exceeded, upon approval by the agency head or designee, by the lesser of either: (1) an additional 50% of the applicable lodging expense limitation, or (2) the actual lodging expense incurred.

These lodging limits continue to be applied to the lodging rate before taxes.  Thus, the amount reimbursed or paid for lodging expenses may exceed the established lodging limitation by as much as the amount of associated taxes.

Conference Lodging qualified under K.A.R. 1-16-18a(c):

Agencies may authorize payment or reimbursement for actual lodging expenses when an employee is required or authorized to attend a conference, and the lodging rate exceeds the applicable lodging expense limitation (including the additional 50%).  The agency head must be provided with conference materials and rates.  These should be maintained with travel documentation.

Reduced Meal Allowance:

If the cost of meals is included within the cost of registration fees or other fees and charges paid by the agency or provided at no cost to the employee, the daily M&IE rate for the travel location should be reduced based on the percentages listed below.  For partial days, the quarter amount is calculated first and then the reduction percentage is applied.  The daily M&IE reduction percentages are as follows:

 
Same Day Meal Allowance:

Reimbursement for a same day meal, in accordance with K.A.R. 1-16-18(c)(2), is calculated as a percentage of the daily M&IE rate for the travel location, based on the approved meal, as follows:

Queries in SMART to Obtain M&IE Rates and Lodging Rates:

A query “KS_EX_CONUS_RATES” is available in SMART to obtain all CONUS and OCONUS locations with the daily M&IE rates, meal reductions and lodging rates. Historical locations and rates from each semi-annual update will be maintained in SMART.

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