Illegal Expenditure by the Army To Replace Laundry and Drycleaning Equipment

Gao ID: PSAD-78-143 October 11, 1978

Laundry and drycleaning services at Fort Carson, Colorado, are provided by a government-owned and -operated facility. Using fiscal year (FY) 1976 funds, Fort Carson bought 21 new laundry or drycleaning equipment items and systems for over $400,000 to modernize its facility. The Army did not determine whether laundry and drycleaning services were available from commercial sources at reasonable rates, and approval for replacement of the equipment was not requested.

These expenditures were in violation of the Department of Defense Appropriation Act of 1976, which prohibits government investment in laundry and drycleaning facilities within the United States unless the Secretary of Defense certifies that commercial services are not available at reasonable rates. All disbursements for the purchase of equipment were made against the FY 1976 appropriation. Since the amount of money specified under that appropriation was not legally authorized, any expenditure made from those funds was in excess of the amount available, and a violation of the Antideficiency Act occurred.

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