Senate passes bill that lifts the salary cap for CPA managers

The Senate has passed a bill to exempt managers of the Commonwealth Ports Authority from the salary limitations imposed by law.

Senate Bill 19-49 exempts these managers from pay limits imposed by the Compensation Adjustment Act. It exempts CPA managers on all CNMI islands from government salary ceiling restrictions. In essence, CPA managers could receive a salary of more than $50,000 per year with the bill.

The bill calls CPA managers “underpaid” given their duties and responsibilities at each airport or seaport.

The bill states that seaport and airport managers operate complex 24-hour port facilities that are heavily regulated by federal agencies.

“The Legislature, however, finds that despite their extensive duties and responsibilities, CPA managers currently earn approximately the same as top paid civil service managers with less duties and responsibilities,” the bill states.

The bill was introduced by Senate President Victor B. Hocog.