Babauta raises concerns with SMO request to keep FTEs

Sen. Celina Babauta (D-Saipan) questioned the duplication of upkeep services between the Saipan Mayor’s Office and Division of Parks & Recreation during Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” B. Camacho’s meeting with the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation yesterday morning at the former’s conference room.

“The predicament we have in the Legislature is that everybody, all departments are asking for FTEs, and there is absolutely no way. We don’t even know where to pull from to give other departments who are much needed,” said Babauta.

Her statement was raised after Camacho chief of staff Priscilla Iakopo presented the mayor’s office fiscal year 2024 expenses and fund status.

According to Iakopo, they are facing a $667,000 budget deficit and is requesting SNILD to help retain seven of its employees.

“We’re actually in a negative of the $667,000, so we really need your help. This is a true story, OMB (Office of Management and Budget) asked us, give us the names of the seven people that we are not going to include in the budget. I told them right back and I said I will not give you those names because those employees have lives. They have family. I’m not going to be responsible for them not eating, them not being able to have a roof over their heads,” said Iakopo.

Camacho also appealed with the SNILD that he needs manpower and he cannot afford to lose their seven FTEs.

“You guys all know that we are covering the entire island here. We’re not just focusing on the precinct, but we are covering the entire precincts here in the island,” he said.

Meanwhile, Babauta suggested collaboration with other agencies like the Department of Public Lands and Parks & Rec through MOUs to optimize resource allocation, wherein she cited the practice on Tinian and Rota.

“A lot of your services are duplicated and it’s redundant with the DPW and I know your guys take care of the secondary roads and all that. Now we appreciate that…[we’ve] always been supportive and given the mayor’s office funding. But is there any way that you guys can collaborate with the Department of Public Works and Parks & Rec? All these other duplicated agencies that can assist the mayor’s office, whether it’s the MOU (memorandum of understanding). Tinian and Rota have been so creative in establishing MOUs between agencies and the mayor’s office,” said Babauta.

Camacho shared that they are working closely with Parks & Rec but face challenges due to insufficient manpower.

“We’re working closely (with Park and Rec and the Department of Public Works), but they have their own tasks. Parks & Rec, they are also complaining of not having enough manpower to cover all tourist sites,” he shared.

The mayor, for example, said that there is a major erosion issue in Micro Beach and the area is in dire need of emergency assistance.

Babauta suggested considering outsourcing projects to local businesses as another option to avoid fuel and maintenance issues, which would benefit the local economy.

In response, Camacho explained his Adopt-A-Place Program, where businesses adopt areas that cannot be accommodated by agencies like Parks & Rec.

The mayor also highlighted the $3.1-million grant the SMO recently received that will help the entire community ease its burden on buying a new power set for street lights on Saipan. He mentioned that they are looking at a 40% drop once the bulbs are installed.

Babauta expressed her frustration with agencies operating in silos, leading to redundancies and inefficiencies.

Camacho suggested doing an inventory of each government agency that gets paid for doing nothing. Babauta then pointed out that Parks & Rec’s personnel costs are more than their operation.

According to Camacho, Parks & Rec is subsidized by the Marianas Visitors Authority and DPL to beautify the islands’ tourist sites.

“They’re fortunate enough because there’s two agencies pushing them, but the mayor, there’s nothing pushing other than to appeal to the local delegation, to make this thing happen,” said Camacho.

SNILD chair Rep. John Paul Sablan (Ind-Saipan) thanked the mayor and his staff for the presentation. He then assured the mayor of the Legislature’s continued support.