Previous Story
Senate says it will pass the 2005 budget
|
Posted on Aug 13 2004
Senate President Joaquin Adriano expressed confidence that the Legislature would be able to pass next year’s budget on or before Sept. 30.
“We’ll do that. Our goal is to pass it before the current fiscal year ends,” said Adriano yesterday.
He indicated that the passage would be easier since the joint panel formed to tackle the budget has seemingly agreed to endorse a $213-million budget for 2005.
The administration has submitted a $226 million budget for next fiscal year.
Adriano has said that the $213-million level is “more than acceptable.”
Earlier, Senate Vice President Diego Songao said the Senate may even agree to a bigger budget, considering a projected collection of up to $6 million in anticipation of the passage of House Bill 14-180, which proposes several revenue generating measures. He said the $213 million limit does not include the projected collection.
The Senate leadership also said that, should government collection exceed the budget, then the Legislature could always provide a supplemental appropriation.
“Lawmakers say that we should stay with $213 million. If we generate more, then we’d make a supplemental budget,” Songao said.
