Legal Documents of Gatlinburg

The maximum per diem rates include a fixed allowance for meals and for incidental expenses (M&I). The M&I rate, or fraction thereof, is payable to the traveler without itemization of expenses or receipts. Incidentals are intended to include miscellaneous costs associated with travel such as tips for baggage handling, phone calls to home, etc. Reimbursement is made only when overnight travel is required, or excessive hours of work are required outside Sevier County or the employee's county of residence. Generally, the applicable maximum per diem rate for each calendar date of travel shall be determined by the location of lodging for the traveler.

The M&I rates for travel are the same as those for federal employees, and are available on the General Services Administration's web site. As with lodging, there is a standard rate for the continental United States (CONUS), and a list of exceptions.

Reimbursement for meals and incidentals for the day of departure shall be three-fourths of the M&I rate. Reimbursement for M&I for the day of return shall be three-fourths of the M&I rate applicable to the preceding calendar day.

Reimbursement may be made for an occasional meal for employees on one-day travel status working beyond their standard workday at one-third of the daily M&I rate for each reimbursable meal. Total reimbursement is limited to the full day M&I allowance. (Ord. #2202, March 2000)