IMPORTANT NOTICE
October 1, 2009
UND Employee:

You may have received an e-mail today indicating that beginning "November 2009, all State of North Dakota employees will be required to pay a premium for their health care plan."  The e-mail goes on to refer the recipient to a web site link to apply for an exemption.  The link takes you to a site designed to emulate the current NDPERS site.  We urge you not to access the site or provide any login information in order to protect your privacy or potentially compromise your identity.  If you accessed the website, we are requesting that you change your password immediately.
Please be advised that NDPERS did not send this notice and there is no truth to the information it contains.  We are working with ITD and the Attorney General's office to identify the source of this erroneous information.


NDPERS Benefits Division

North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System
701.328.3900
FAX: 701.328.3920
ndpers@nd.gov

GSA Per Diem Increase
September 29, 2009
Finance Contacts:

The new per diem rates, as established by the United States General Services Administration, have been released and are effective for all travel occurring on or after October 1, 2009. 

The per diem rate identifies the maximum expense allowed for meal reimbursements for each quarter of any twenty-four hour period.    While per diem rates are not likely to change within a fiscal year, departments are encouraged to obtain the most current rates for each travel voucher by visiting the GSA Domestic Per Diem Rates website and use the "M&IE RATE" column:  
http://www.gsa.gov/Portal/gsa/ep/contentView.do?contentType=GSA_BASIC&contentId=17943

The rate for Grand Forks, as well as any other city or county NOT listed, is $46.00 per day.  For out-of-state travel, please refer to the destination state. 

Please note:  Employees traveling in-state remain subject to the $25 maximum per day, as established by the North Dakota Century Code, Chapter 44-08-04.

Thank you,
Accounting Services
Email #092909-1

Non-Employee Direct Billing of Lodging
September 16, 2009
Finance Contacts:

PRIOR authorization to direct bill lodging charges should be obtained by completing a Direct billing of Lodging Authorization form and submitting it to Accounting Services.  Upon approval, only the room and room tax charges may be direct billed to the university.  The university department should complete a Voucher, payable to the lodging establishment, and forward the Voucher with the original, detailed invoice and the  Direct Billing of Lodging form to Accounting Services for processing.  All other charges, other than the room and room tax charges, will be the responsibility of the non-employee.

The department should inquire on whether state rates are available for the non-employee lodging in North Dakota.  Some hotels honor state rates when the non-employee is traveling for university business.

Please contact Accounting Services with any questions, 777-4131.

Email #091609-1

Policy Change - Mileage & In-State Lodging Rates
September 15, 2009
Finance Contacts:

Rates for mileage and in-state lodging were changed during the past legislative session. Both of these changes took effect August 1, 2009.

Senate Bill 2064, Section 1d allows the director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to establish an in-state lodging rate not to exceed ninety percent of the rate established by the United States General Services Administration, (GSA), plus applicable state and local taxes. At the time of this writing, ninety percent of the GSA rate for lodging in North Dakota is $63. The GSA may periodically change the rate for lodging and OMB will adjust the in-state lodging rate accordingly during the biennium.

Senate Bill 2064, Section 7, 1c changes the mileage reimbursement to that established by the United States GSA. At the time of this writing, the rate was 55 cents per mile, however, the GSA may change the rate several times during the biennium.

Again, both of these changes were effective for travel occurring August 1, 2009 and after.

If you have any questions please contact any of the following:
Bonnie Nerby, Accounting Services Auditor at 7-2966 or bonnienerby@mail.und.edu
Allison Peyton, Director of Accounting Services at 7-2968 or allisonpeyton@mail.und.edu

UPDATE: NWA baggage handling surcharge fees
September 8, 2009
Finance Contacts:

On August 31st, you should have received an email detailing the NWA baggage handling surcharge fees.  We've had a number of questions regarding the fees and thought we would address them en masse via the Finance Contacts Listserv.

First of all, we have a correction to the original email.  The surcharge on bags checked at a kiosk is $5, not $6, as originally stated.

The $5 surcharge cannot be paid in advance and is in addition to the other checked baggage fees.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please be sure to contact Bonnie Nerby at bonnienerby@mail.und.edu or 7-2966.

Thank you,
Bonnie
Accounting Services

Electronic Pay Stub Implementation Delayed
September 1, 2009
UND Employee:

The Payroll Office had hoped to implement electronic pay stubs in September, but that has been delayed until a later date.   You will receive more information in the future regarding electronic pay stubs.   Please continue to encourage employees in your department to claim their U-Mail account, open the email from the ConnectND Security team with their Employee Self-Service userID and password; and log into Employee Self-Service.   They will like what they can do and see in Employee Self-Service!

NWA baggage handling surcharge fees
August 31, 2009
Finance Contacts:

Effective for tickets purchased on or after July 16, 2009, for travel on or after August 4, 2009:
Customers traveling domestically who pre-pay baggage fees on NWA.com will be charged $15.00 for the first checked bag and $25.00 for the second checked bag.  Customers traveling domestically who check-in and pay bag fees at an airport kiosk or with an agent will incur a $6.00 surcharge for the first and second checked bags.  Reminder:  UND will pay for the first checked piece of luggage and any surcharge with proof of payment. UND will not reimburse for the second or any additional baggage without proper justification.

Any questions, please contact Bonnie @ 777-2966

Email #083109-1