REGIONAL AND OVERSEAS OFFICES

EXPLANATION OF CHANGES SHOWN ON SCHEDULE C
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

REGIONAL AND OVERSEAS OFFICES

EXPLANATION OF CHANGES SHOWN ON SCHEDULE C
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

A. MANDATORY PAY AND RELATED COSTS (continued)

8. Personnel Benefits

This figure represents the increases of employer
contribution to FEGLI, CSRS, FERS Thrift Plan, and
Social Security taxes resulting from increases in per-
sonnel compensation and the Social Security taxable
wage base, for increases resulting from annualization of
and greater participation in the FERS retirement system,
and for annualization of rate changes in the Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program.

B. PRICE LEVEL CHANGES

1. Travel Increase of 7%

This amount represents the average expected increases
in the costs of travel. Most contract airfares are
changed semiannually. Also the General Services
Administration annually increases the number of
high cost cities and per diem rates based on the
increasing costs of service in accordance with the
authority granted in P.L. 99-234.

2. Training Increase of 5%

This amount will provide for increases in the costs of training provided by OPM and other vendors.

3. Contract Services Increase of 2%

The amount is to cover inflationary cost increases
for contracts in support of audit work and miscellaneous
administrative support services.

4. Supplies and Materials increase of 6%

This level covers the increases for subscriptions and periodicals and for supplies from GSA retail stores and other vendors.

5. Furniture and Equipment Increase of 1%

This amount funds price level changes for current levels of expenditures to replace worn-out or broken furniture and equipment.

REGIONAL AND OVERSEAS OFFICES

EXPLANATION OF CHANGES SHOWN ON SCHEDULE C
(Dollar amounts in thousands)

C. PROGRAM TYPE CHANGES

b. Other Program Enhancements

2. Workload

(1) Travel

The increase will enable staff to visit more sites
and increase the length of time spent at the sites
which should lead to better sampling and data
collection. Also included is funding to encourage
GAO employees' use of public transportation.
(2) Training

The increase provides for more evaluator training
required in support of audit assignments of
increasing complexity.

(3) Contract Services

The increases are for contract services provided
by local government and non-government
vendors for administrative support services
such as photo reproduction, labor and receiving
services associated with the delivery and move-
ment of equipment and furniture, interpreter
services for the hearing-impaired, and lock and
safe repair services.

D. EQUIPMENT, ALTERATIONS, MAINTENANCE,
REPAIRS, ETC.

1. Furniture and Equipment

This increase will fund the replacement of furniture
and broken equipment for the regions and overseas
offices.