Saipan Tribune

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Fitial OKs $168K for Saipan projects

Gov. Benigno R. Fitial signed “with reservation” yesterday a local measure appropriating and re-appropriating a total of $168,872.71-mostly from developer's infrastructure tax funds-for different projects on Saipan such as public school sewer and water systems, animal shelter sewer disposal system, a crosswalk and basketball courts. One of the local bill's co-authors said the local delegation will address the governor's concerns.

The governor said the Department of Finance secretary has “certified that funds are available for this specific appropriation; however, action on this local law will not be implemented until the Saipan and Northern Islands [Legislative] Delegation pass appropriation legislation to fulfill their obligations they had previously committed to pay for travel of the Saipan Little League and the Saipan Southern High School Manta Ray Band.”

House Local Bill 17-82, Draft 2 is now Saipan Local Law 17-18. Its co-authors are former speaker Eli Cabrera and former representative and now Sen. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan).

Yumul said yesterday he thanks the governor for signing the bill because the Public School System needs funds to repair its water and wastewater systems.

“It will help reduce schools' respective billings. The SNILD will work on his reservations,” Yumul told Saipan Tribune.

SLL 17-18 appropriates $149,446 from the developer's infrastructure tax fund for four Saipan projects.

These include $94,446.98 for PSS' water and wastewater program and $15,000 for the animal shelter sewer disposal system. Another $25,000 is for the construction of a crosswalk fronting Eucon International School and other locations on Saipan and $15,000 for the construction and improvement of the drainage system by the San Antonio basketball court.

The new local law re-appropriates a fund balance of $19,425 for from the construction and renovation of the Koblerville basketball court bleachers and shelter, the construction of two concrete picnic tables adjacent to Atmondegas Street in Koblerville, and the repair and renovation of the San Antonio basketball court fence and bleachers.