CCC board asks House committee to approve $3M budget

The Commonwealth Casino Commission has asked the House Standing Committee on Ways and Means to approve its budget request of $3.15 million which is to be paid by casino investor Imperial Pacific International (CNMI) LLC.

Last Tuesday, CCC board of director chair Edward DeLeon Guerrero submitted a budget proposal in the amount of $3.15 million before the Way and Means Committee for approval.

Pursuant to Public Law 19-24, CCC must submit a budget proposal (which will be paid by operator) whether IPI has the means to do so or not.

“Under Public Law 19-24, $3 million which increased by 5% each year, is earmarked for the CCC but we need the legislature to appropriate it every year. CCC must justify how it will be spent,” he said.

DeLeon Guerrero explained that the public law was designed so that the operator was the one to pay, not taxpayers.

However, during the hearing, a heated exchange arose between DeLeon Guerrero and Rep. Marissa Flores (D-Saipan) who stated that she was not comfortable appropriating over $3 million to CCC when other agencies are struggling too.

DeLeon Guerrero, in response, clarified that the funds they are requesting doesn’t come from the general government fund but from IPI.

“It’s not coming from the source that you have control over,” DeLeon Guerrero said.

Meanwhile, DeLeon Guerrero shared that despite all the negative experience everyone has had with IPI, IPI performed remarkably well on the gaming side of things.

“Where they really messed up was in the non-gaming area (labor, construction) and I keep hearing rumors about money laundering, but I have not seen to date any indictment against IPI regarding money laundering for gaming. We are not responsible for labor, we are not responsible for [Occupational Safety and Health Administration], we have no authority over non-gaming aspects,” he said.