My organization gets money from the federal government for a program that we operate. I'm responsible for the management of this grant, including requesting reimbursement for grant funds when we incur expenses for the program.
Several months ago a colleague and I traveled to Atlanta for a training conference related to this program. I submitted request for reimbursement for the costs of this conference to my grant rep (a government employee) and she and I went back and forth over one tiny thing I was requesting reimbursement for: my colleague's $5 train fare from the airport to the hotel.
My colleague forgot to request a receipt for his train fare from the kiosk where we purchased our tickets. Because of this, I had no "proof" that he actually took the train and therefore should be reimbursed that $5. My assertion to this government employee that I knew my colleague took the train that day because I was sitting right next to him was not good enough. She needed further proof. Ironically enough, she had approved the reimbursement for this person's air fare to and from Atlanta, hotel stay in Atlanta, meals at restaurants in Atlanta, and conference registration fee. Yet there was still a lingering doubt in her mind whether or not he was actually in Atlanta when he claimed he was.
After too much back-and-forth she finally agreed to approve the $5 reimbursement, with the admonishment that next time we better keep better track. Now, I totally agree that the government should not fork over funds without proof of what they were spent on. But let's be reasonable. I figure the value of the time this government employee and I spent on this issue was probably close to $50 - a good ten times more than the amount of money we were haggling over.
They don't teach you how to deal with this kind of madness in grad school. At least not in my classes.
1 comment:
All the folks that got bail out money should have had to gone through this lady. Mom
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