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                             November 12, 1996
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                             GSBCA 13657-RELO


                    In the Matter of RICHARD A. CHESSER


     Richard A. Chesser, Daleville, AL, Claimant.

     Tommy L. Traylor, Defense Accounting Officer, Defense Finance
and Accounting Service, Fort Rucker, AL  

BORWICK, Board Judge.

     Mr. Richard A. Chesser, an electronics mechanic with the
Department of the Army, submitted a claim to the General Accounting
Office, seeking reimbursement of certain relocation expenses
associated with his relocation from the Sacramento Army Depot in
California to Fort Rucker in Alabama.   By settlement certificate
Z-2869804 (May 28, 1996), GAO determined that Mr. Chesser was
entitled to reimbursement of surveyor expenses and a loan
application fee.  Settlement of those expenses is undisturbed.  Mr.
Chesser is not entitled to reimbursement of brokerage commission
for purchase of his new residence.  

     Mr. Chesser submitted a settlement statement for $6,228.75 for
brokerage commission on the purchase of his new home in Alabama, a
loan application fee of $250, and a fee of $175 for a survey
associated with the purchase of his new house. 

     The Department of Defense Civilian Personnel Joint Travel
Regulations (JTR) provides that a broker's fee for sale of the
employee's residence is reimbursable, but that "no such fee or
commission is reimbursable in connection with the purchase of a
home at the new [permanent duty station]."  JTR, C14002A.1.  The
JTR also provides that FHA fees, VA fees, loan origination fees and
similar charges are reimbursable "provided they are customarily
paid . . . by the purchaser of a residence at the new duty station,
to the extent they do not exceed specifically stated limitations,
or in the absence thereof, amounts customarily paid in the locality
of the residence."  JTR, C14002A.4.a(1), (2).

     Before transfer of these functions to the executive branch,
the GAO by settlement certificate Z-2869804 (May 21, 1996) granted
Mr. Chesser reimbursement for the $175 surveyor's fee and the $250
loan application fee.  We do not consider these matters further. 
Mr. Chesser is not entitled to reimbursement for the brokerage
commission for purchase of his residence; that expense is not
reimbursable under the JTR. 

                              _________________________
                              ANTHONY S. BORWICK
                              Board Judge