We are providing information about the implementation of our new agency budget structure through myth-busting and sharing facts that help us all learn together.

Myth #6: An employee supporting a project in another region should charge their travel costs to the benefitting region’s salary and expenses shorthand code.  
  
Fact #6:  The new budget structure enables us to concentrate on the needs of the agency and resources to meet those needs.  We are one Forest Service, one agency and, therefore, we all benefit from the accomplishment of mission critical work being done, regardless of the location.

As such, travel expenses for project-based assistance are charged to the employee's home unit shorthand code unless working on permanent, trust, suppression or externally funded projects. The process of sharing employees’ skills across boundaries is based on the collective, shared priority use of that employee's time, rather than funding.

By leading beyond our home units, we embrace stewarding the whole as the “incentive” for sharing employees instead of a financial savings for the home unit. Recognizing we are one agency that needs to work together to accomplish priority work regardless of location honors our agency’s shared value of interdependence as exemplified in This Is Who We Are.

For more detailed information about current budget operations and FAQs, you can visit FY2021 Appropriated Budget Structure (internal site) or contact your local budget officer.

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