The General Services Administration (GSA) announced its Fiscal Year 2024 per diem rates.  The per diem guidelines govern reimbursement rates for federal employees’ lodging and meal expenses while traveling for official government travel.  Please note the rates become effective on October 1, 2023.  

Typically, GSA calculates per diem rates based on the average daily rate (ADR) from the previous fiscal year, less five percent.

For Galveston County, the FY2024 CONUS per diem rates are:

• $107 lodging (October thru May and August thru September; $8 increase over FY2023 rates)
• $142 lodging (June 1 thru July 31; $10 increase over FY2023 rates)
• $64 meals 

Seawall overnight parking rules for the first weekend of Mardi Gras

We're just a few weeks away from the start of Mardi Gras, which runs February 18 to March 1. The first weekend (Feb. 18-20) kicks off with several parades downtown on Friday night and the Mystic Krewe of Aquarius and Gambrinus Seawall parades on Saturday.

Overnight parking will be allowed on the Seawall beginning 5 a.m. Thursday until 5 a.m. Sunday during the first weekend of Mardi Gras only. The spaces are available first-come, first-serve beginning Thursday morning.  More information is available here!  

Mardi Gras returns to the Historic Galveston Strand District in 2022 for the 111th annual celebration!  The third-largest Mardi Gras celebration in the country is back on Galveston Island in 2022 from February 18th thru March 1st.  More information!

On May 5, Visit Galveston will host the 8th Annual Tourism Summit at the Galveston Island Convention Center. This is a FREE event to ALL Galveston tourism partners.  More information is available here.

The Galveston City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to cancel the Mardi Gras 2021  festival over concerns about the spread of COVID-19.   It is anticipated the event will be back in February 2022. 

The Galveston Hotel & Lodging Association has announced its new board of directors.  The board’s term will run through November 2022.  Marty Miles, complex general manager of the Hotel Galvez Resort & Spa / The Tremont House / Harbor House Hotel & Marina is the new chair of the GHLA Board of Directors.  Willis Gandhi, president of Texas Coast Hotels, has been named Vice President.  For additional information, please visit: www.galvestonlodging.org/about. 

According to data from the Department of State Health Services, hospitalizations in Galveston County have been above 15% in Trauma Service Area R.  Galveston County Judge Mark Henry announced earlier today that the state’s order took effect at 8 a.m. Tuesday and it requires all bars to close and restaurants and other retail busineeses are to operate at 50% capacity.  Additionally, hospitals might have to limit the number of elective surgeries.  Judge Henry said he has sent three requests for Galveston County to be exempt from the tighter restrictions, but those requests have gone unanswered.

The City of Galveston is now accepting applications for positions on the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees.

The Park Board of Trustees' mission is to promote Galveston Island, its natural resources, attractions, and heritage; to attract visitors to Galveston Island; and to assure that Galveston's assets, for which the Board of Trustees is responsible, provide visitors and residents with exemplary experiences in an environment that is safe, clean, accessible, fun, and environmentally sensitive.

Interested candidates can apply in person at the City Secretary’s office or access the application online under Online Forms. Applicants may email their completed application and residency affidavit to the City Secretary’s email group at CitySec@galvestontx.gov. The affidavit must be notarized before sending it in. The City Secretary’s Office will notarize forms if applicants come in person.

Anyone interested in applying should submit their application by June 12th.

Galveston voters approved doubling the hourly seawall parking fee and extending the paid parking program for another 10 years, according to complete.

The approved ballot measure, which would take effect in 2020, raises the hourly fee from $1 to $2 with a minimum purchase of two hours.  Additionally, the price of the annual parking  pass increases to $45 from $25.  

Parking fees are in effective from 10am to 6pm.

GISD will be hosting the Annual Ball High School Job Fair on Tuesday, February 26^th!  This is a wonderful opportunity for you to meet, network, and recruit students (especially graduating seniors) for your organization.  To secure your spot at the event or if you have questions, please call Eric Paul at (409)766-5725 or email ericpaul@gisd.org.

Date:               February 26, 2019 

Event:             8:15AM-3:30PM

Location:        4116 Ave N1/2 (Across from Ball HS)