$3M poker revenue bill now Saipan local law

Saipan lawmakers appropriated more than what’s projected to be generated from poker license fees, so at least 16 proposed programs and activities will be funded only after a $3.1 million allotment for the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance and its operations and personnel has been satisfied.

Acting governor Eloy S. Inos approved yesterday a local bill appropriating $3.454 million in revenue from poker license fees.

He did not line-item veto the bill, but he said it is anticipated that the projected amount to be collected in fiscal year 2011 will not reach $3.454 million as appropriated in House Local Bill 17-33, Draft 7.

The bill is now Saipan Local Law 17-9.

Based on the trend of license renewals, the Department of Finance anticipates a 2.6-percent drop in collections, Inos said. Therefore, Sections 2(B)(2) thru 2(B)(17) “will be allotted proportionately based on collections” after the $3.1 million is satisfied for qualified recipients and for the operations of the SHEFA scholarship program.

Inos cautioned all expenditure authorities to adhere to restrictions outlined in the bill on how the funds are to be spent.

Inos said the SHEFA board, for one, must take note of the section that specifically prohibits the use of the $100,000 operations appropriation for any consulting and/or professional services contracts.

Of the $3.454 million appropriated by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, $3 million is for SHEFA scholarship while $100,000 is for SHEFA operations and personnel.

The rest, totaling $354,000, is divided among 16 programs and activities that will have to be allotted proportionately after the $3.1 million for SHEFA has been satisfied.

These include $25,000 for the Saipan Little League; $20,000 for the 30th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival; $75,000 for the Saipan Zoning; $10,000 for the Agricultural Fair; $5,000 for the CNMI Boy Scouts Program; $45,000 for the Liberation Day activities; and $10,000 for the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council.

The others are: $10,000 for the purchase of riding mowers, bush cutters and other maintenance equipment for the Oleai Sports Complex and Cow Town Race Track; $10,000 for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games and $10,000 for the Pacific Games Bidding Committee; $15,000 for the Neighborhood Watch Program; $5,000 for the construction of a Precinct 1 bus shelter; and $10,000 for the construction of a Precinct 5 bus shelter.

Completing the list are: $39,000 for the purchase of maintenance equipment for all public schools; $50,000 for the Northern Marianas Trade Institute’s personnel and textbook purchase; $10,000 for the Saipan Fishing Derby; and $5,000 for the 30th Annual Flame Tree Festival insurance premium.

The new Saipan local law also re-appropriates the balance of Saipan Local Law 14-31 amounting to $8,791 for a Precinct 1 pedestrian crosswalk project.

The delegation earlier said the bill appropriated $3.464 million; but the administration said it’s $3.454 million. Saipan lawmakers took 11 months to pass the bill

Rep. Ray Yumul (R-Saipan), author of the bill, told Saipan Tribune that he thanks the acting governor “for acting quickly to sign the local appropriation bill into law and also for not (making a) line-item veto.”