COLA rates decreasing Published April 20, 2009 By Staff Sgt. Logan Tuttle 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The Cost of Living Allowance is projected to drop one third of the current entitlement by the end of August. The per diem committee that determines COLA rates projected the first half of this reduction. The second half was based on pricing studies in Germany showing the cost of goods has remained relatively flat, while prices in the U.S. for goods and services are increasing. The committee expects the reduction to be hard on military members stationed in Germany. The decrease will be phased in beginning in May and ending in August to prevent members from seeing a sudden drop in pay, and allowing people to adjust their spending habits. The committee gathers information through surveys. Military members living off base have the opportunity to take the annual overseas housing allowance utility survey. These surveys generally take place in Feb. or March, however, Spangdahlem is overdue for one because the per diem committee moved offices. A living-pattern survey that determines how much people shop on base compared to off base and a survey that compares the prices of items overseas to those in the U.S. also factor into the decision the committee makes to raise or lower per diem. "We can get through this and we encourage all Sabers to plan now for this projected COLA decrease," said Chief Master Sgt. Stephen Burn, 52nd Comptroller Squadron. "We encourage all supervisors to sit down and go over the COLA decrease during their weekly roll calls." For more information on COLA or other allowances, the Committee's website is www.defensetravel.dod.mil/perdiem/.