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ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. --  Changes to gate hours of operation begin Oct. 1

Security requirements have warranted a slight change in gate service hours.

For planning purposes, weekday hours at the following gates will be reduced beginning Oct. 1:

Gate 4
Truck/Commercial - search hours will be 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Inbound Gate 5 (Martin Luther King Jr. gate) hours will be 6 to 8 a.m. (peak inbound usage hours only).
Outbound Gate 5 (Martin Luther King Jr. gate) will remain open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Traffic studies indicate the reduction in hours at these gates will have minimum impact to the installation. Inbound traffic at Gate 5 drops off considerably after 8 a.m., and truck traffic at Gate 4 is minimal from 5 to 6 a.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

For non-standard operations, Security Forces maintains the ability to respond to Gate 4 for truck traffic during off hours - no change.

Security Forces will continue to provide the appropriate level of security and support in the midst of constrained resources.

Motorists are asked to be patient as the installation transitions to the new service hours.

- Courtesy 78th Security Forces Squadron

Road closures

Construction to replace the steam lines between Bldgs. 10241 and 949 continues.

The parking lots and street are now open; however, due to settling, 10th Street will have to be closed again to make necessary repairs to the asphalt patch.

The road between Robins Parkway and Page Road will close at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday and will reopen Sept. 30. Updates will be provided as required.

The northbound lane of Robins Parkway near Bldg. 321, will close Sept. 28 at 7:30 a.m. The closure is to repair a water main leak and replace two fire hydrants. The road is scheduled to reopen at 5 p.m. Oct. 11.

The southbound lane will be used for both directions of traffic during construction (one lane for northbound traffic and one lane for southbound traffic).

On the fly

Lodging rates increase Oct. 1

Air Force lodging rates will go up beginning Oct. 1, according to Air Force Personnel Center officials.

The fiscal 2014 lodging rates are within per diem levels for all locations and incorporate a change in fund source, from appropriated funds to non-appropriated funds, for most operational expenses, except visiting quarters construction; sustainment, restoration and modernization; facility maintenance and repair; utilities, grounds maintenance and common support.

Last year lodging rates were adjusted for centralized recapitalization efforts; however, during fiscal 2013 AFPC financial management refined some of the factors driving an overall fiscal 2014 decrease to large TLF and DV rates.

Effective Oct. 1 Robins' lodging rates for fiscal 2014 are as follows:

Visiting Quarters (VQs) $65

Temporary Lodging Facilities
(TLFs) $60.50

Distinguished VOQ/VQ
$58.75

Distinguished Large Distinguished
VOQs $61.50

For more information, call Ron Jones, Lodging general manager at DSN 468-2100 Ext. 4901.

Tax savings traveling in 11 states

Travelers on temporary duty can take advantage of tax savings while conducting business across 11 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Military members and government employees on official travel can be exempted from paying state taxes while using hotel lodging.

That includes lodging sales tax exemption for those on TDY and PCS travel paid using the Government Travel Card. Some states require a form - that includes Puerto Rico and six states: Florida, Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.

The U.S. Virgin Islands and five states do not require special forms.
They include, Alaska, Delaware, Kansas, Missouri and Oregon.

To learn more, visit the GSASmartPay website at https://smartpay.gsa.gov/about-gsa-smartpay/taxinformation/stateresponse-letter, before travelling to take advantage of these tax savings, and to obtain a tax exemption form if applicable. Travelers should also check with their hotel to verify state tax law compliance.

This effort is part of the Air Force's "Every Dollar Counts" cost-savings campaign. Members pay about $4.5 million in lodging taxes needlessly in these locations each year