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Fitial, Cabinet meet on $165.4M budget
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Posted on Dec 22 2008
Gov. Benigno R. Fitial held another meeting yesterday afternoon with Finance Secretary Eloy Inos and other key staff regarding the $165.4-million budget for fiscal year 2009 that the Legislature recently passed.
Press secretary Charles Reyes Jr. told Saipan Tribune last night that the meeting pushed through in the governor’s office, but that there was no decision yet whether to accept or veto the proposed budget.
In an interview yesterday at noon, Reyes said there would be more deliberations pertaining to the budget and that they expect to act on it on or before Christmas Day, the deadline for the administration to make a decision. If the governor fails to act on the budget by then, it automatically becomes law.
“We do have a number of concerns and we will be meeting to discuss budget issues this afternoon [Monday],” he said.
Reyes said the governor will be meeting with Inos, his legal counsel, Office of Personnel Management officials, and key administration staff.
“We should have an announcement and decision shortly because it’s already the 22nd. Christmas is Thursday. So within the next few days,” the press secretary said.
Reyes told Saipan Tribune shortly after the Cabinet meeting last week that they actually have a few concerns about the proposed spending limit.
The press secretary said Fitial received feedback from Cabinet members and that he is going to take these into consideration.
The Legislature passed the $165.4-million budget for FY 2009 on Dec. 4, 2008. It includes 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.
