The General Services Administration (GSA), the federal agency charged with

establishing per diem rates for federal travel, released per diem reimbursement

rates for fiscal year 2011, which will take effect on Oct. 1.

Per diem is the allowance provided to government employees for lodging

(excluding taxes), meals and incidental expenses incurred while on official

government travel. Federal government per diem rates, calculated based on widely

accepted industry measures, provide effective stewardship of taxpayer

dollars.

The daily rate is a commonly used performance indicator in the hotel industry

that represents the average rental income per occupied room in a given time

period. FY2011 rates reflect an overall decrease of 3.85 percent when compared

to FY2010 rates.

In establishing per diem rates, GSA sets two different kinds of rates --- a

standard per diem rate and a non-standard per diem rate.  Most areas,

approximately 2,600 counties, are covered by a standard per diem rate.  The

standard rate, which is reviewed every three years, is an aggregate of rates for

locations across the country, not including those locations that are considered

non-standard.  For FY2011, the standard per diem rate has been adjusted

upward to $77 to reflect the average daily rate for lodging across the country.

Reimbursement for meals and incidental expenses remain unchanged from FY2010

ranging from $46 through $71 for meals per day depending on the location and $5

for incidental expenses.

GSA also sets per diem rates for 378 "Nonstandard Areas" in the United

States.  Nonstandard areas are frequently traveled by the federal community

and are reviewed annually.  Of these 378 areas, 310 will see decreases in

their FY2011 rates, 50 will increase, and 18 will remain the same. The per diem

rate is the maximum allowable reimbursement rates for federal travelers. 

Agencies may authorize actual expenses consistent with the Federal Travel

Regulation.

GSA has statutory responsibility to establish actual and necessary expense

reimbursements and per diem allowances for federal employees traveling on

official business.

For all full list of all FY2011 per diem rates per location or for

more information on how GSA determines federal per diem rates, href="http://www.GSA.gov/perdiem">http://www.GSA.gov/perdiem.