Previous Story
Admin has concerns about $165.4M budget
|
Posted on Dec 15 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial and his Cabinet had extensive discussions yesterday morning about the $165.4-million budget for fiscal year 2009 that the Legislature recently passed.
In an interview with Saipan Tribune shortly after the Cabinet meeting, press secretary Charles Reyes Jr. said they actually have a few concerns about the proposed spending limit.
“We want to make sure that we’ll address all those concerns,” Reyes said without elaborating on the specific issues.
Reyes said the proposed budget is currently before Fitial’s desk for review and that the governor has five days to look into it.
The press secretary said Fitial has already received feedback from Cabinet members and that he is going to take those issues into consideration.
“We expect that after a very careful review we will have a decision that will be announced soon within the next few days,” he said.
The Legislature passed a $165.4-million budget for FY 2009, including provisions for 10.7-percent cuts against agencies funded by the central government.
The proposed budget excludes the self-funding Department of Public Lands, which will get $3.1 million, and autonomous agencies.
Reyes said Fitial’s next move—whether to veto or accept the proposed budget—will depend on whether the Cabinet’s concerns can be addressed “in some other way.”
“Most of the Cabinet meeting was pretty much focused on the budget issue,” he added.
Reyes said Finance Secretary Eloy Inos pointed out that there are resource issues and that there is a need to revise the projected revenues due to the deteriorating revenue situation.
