New Per Diem Rates Set

GSA has released new per diem rates for federal travelers effective October 1, raising the meals and incidentals expenses reimbursement minimum from $39 to $46 a day and the maximum from $64 to $71 per day. The minimum “M&IE” rate applies to travel destinations that do not have their own specified rates, as well as to some of the lower-cost destinations that do; the maximum rate generally applies in specified destinations that have high lodging rates as well. The standard daily lodging rate for destinations without specific rates will remain $70. The highest combined rate is New York City and environs, $411 in October-December, down from a combined $424 rate. Other high-rate destinations include Vail, Colo., a combined $342 December-March; the Boston area, a combined $311 in September and October; and the District of Columbia area, a combined $300 in September and October. Each of those is up by a few dollars over fiscal 2009 rates, although rates in a number of other destinations declined a bit as in the case of New York. In addition, the seasonal dates changed in some cases for destinations whose rates vary by season.