CPA seeks up to 106 percent per diem increase

The Commonwealth Ports Authority is seeking to implement new per diem rates that are higher by up to 106 percent than the rates set by the Department of Finance for government employees traveling off-island.

According to CPA’s proposal, employees traveling within the CNMI will receive a per diem allowance of $175. This is 106 percent greater than the $85 set by Finance for within-the-CNMI trips made by government personnel.

CPA’s per diem rate for Guam trips is $200, as opposed to Finance’s $175.

The authority seeks a $200 per diem rate for trips to Palau, Chuuk, Kosrae, Majuro, Pohnpei, and Yap. Finance’s rate for Micronesia travels is only $150.

Ports employees will receive $300 for Japan, Far East Asia, and Southeast Asia. According to Finance’s rate scale, per diem is only $275 for trips to Japan and $200 for trips to Far East Asia and Southeast Asia.

CPA and Finance have the same rates for travel to mainland states—at $250 for Hawaii, California, New York, and Washington D.C., and $200 for all other mainland states.

The proposed rates were approved by the CPA board of directors in December 2005, and appears in the latest edition of the Commonwealth Register.

“The proposed regulations are intended to adjust per diem rates for the Commonwealth Ports Authority employees when traveling off-island,” reads a portion of the draft regulations. “It has been determined that current rates are no longer realistic and that rates conforming to those established by the Federal Aviation Administration more equitably covers costs incurred by employees of the [authority] during off-island travel.”

In December 2005, the then outgoing Babauta administration established caps for travel expenses incurred by government employees.

Aside from per diem rates, which apply to trips where lodging is required, the emergency regulation adopted by Finance set the maximum daily limits for other travel related expenses. Finance limited car rental and all associated costs at $70; meals at $25; and parking fees at $50.

Per diem allowance is the maximum daily limit for lodging and meals expenses. If an employee selects per diem reimbursement, no receipts are required. Per diem allowance is only provided for an uninterrupted period of CNMI business activity.