Reductions in Coast Guard Leased Housing Can Achieve Savings

Gao ID: GGD-84-91 August 8, 1984

GAO reviewed the Coast Guard's policies, procedures, and practices for the leasing of housing for its service members and their dependents to determine whether it needs to continue leasing in view of the variable housing allowance (VHA).

GAO found that the Coast Guard's internal surveys used to determine private housing costs overstated the costs and thereby the need for leasing. Leasing costs were about $6 million more than the $20 million of allowances its members would have been entitled to in fiscal year 1982 if they had obtained their own housing. GAO believes that the Coast Guard should discontinue leasing the majority of the units and pay its members basic allowance for quarters and VHA. The Coast Guard also needs to improve its use of leased housing.

Recommendations

Our recommendations from this work are listed below with a Contact for more information. Status will change from "In process" to "Open," "Closed - implemented," or "Closed - not implemented" based on our follow up work.

Director: James G. Mitchell Team: General Accounting Office: General Government Division Phone: (202) 275-8676


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