$3.9M a year spent on govt travels

An average of $3.9 million in public funds are spent on government travels every year, with the highest spending of $4.6 million recorded in fiscal year 1997.

Documents obtained by the Saipan Tribune showed that in the past eight years, the government incurred a total of $31.30 million in travel expenditure. See Figure 1 for breakdown. These figures do not include the travel expenses of autonomous agencies.

For FY 2005, the government’s travel expenditure totals $2.4 million as of June 7.

The Executive Branch (Saipan) spent $1.4 million in FY 2005 and $2.7 million in FY 2004.

Rota offices have spent $128,709 so far in FY 2005 and $217,159 in FY 2004, while Tinian offices used up $154,732 in FY 2005 and $224,721 in FY 2004.

The Judicial Branch, meantime, has spent a total of $58,674 for travels: $6,637 for the Superior Court; $38,008 for the Supreme Court; and $14,029 for the Law Revision Commission in FY 2005.

In FY 2004, the judiciary’s total expenditure reached $62,927, broken down as: $9,574 for the Superior Court; $46,543 for the Supreme Court; and $6,810 for the Law Revision Commission.

The Legislative Branch has spent $694,772 in FY 2005 and $821,643 in FY 2004.

Documents showed that the House of Representatives spent $150,296 in FY 2005 and $198,838 in FY 2004, while the Senate incurred $519,812 in FY 2005 and $515,437 in FY 2004.

The Legislative Bureau spent $24,664 in the current fiscal year and $107,368 in the previous fiscal year.

In terms of per agency spending, the Department of Public Health consistently tops the list, with the biggest spending of over $1 million every year since fiscal year 1998.

The Governor’s Office ranks second in terms of spending except in FY 1997 when it incurred the biggest cost of $1.7 million.

“Other Programs” in Saipan spending includes the CNMI Youth Congress, prior year adjustments, 902 consultation, Girl Scouts, Joeten-Kiyu Public Library, and miscellaneous.

On Rota and Tinian, “Other Programs” include Rota Public Library and Little League baseball.

The following is the complete list of agencies’ travel spending in FY 2004:

Saipan
1. DPH – $1.5 million
2. Gov. Office – $467,159
3. DCCA – $145,068
4. DPS – $120,541
5. OPA – $85,132
6. Other Programs – $80,755
7. Lt. Governor’s – $68,846
8. DoF – $67,513
9. Mayor’s Office – $61,244
10. AGO – $45,243
11. Commerce – $38,790
12. Boards, Commissions – $31,538
13. DLNR – $25,919
14. DPW – $23,904
15. DoL – $3,711

Rota
1. Mayor’s Office – $60,851
2. DPH – $39,160
3. DoL – $25,026
4. DPS – $20,343
5. CCA – $16,401
6. DoF – $12, 692
7. DLNR – $12,253
8. DPW – $12,160
9. Commerce – $11,363
10. Other Programs – $4,003
11. Gov. Office – $2,737
12. Immigration – $1,405

Tinian
1. Mayor’s Office – $81,081
2. DLNR – $38,951
3. DPH – $30,838
4. DPS – $19,597
5. DoF – $16,383
6. DPW – $15,536
7. DoL – $9,756
8. CCA – $4,110
9. Gov. Ofc – $2,811
The following are the agencies’ travel spending in FY 2005:
Saipan
1. DPH – $751,862
2. Gov. Ofc. – $195,905
3. DoF – $107,077
4. CCA – $76,143
5. DPS – $37,580
6. Mayor’s Ofc – $36,382
7. DPW – $36,141
8. AGO – $35,702
9. Boards, Commissions – $15,747
10. Lt. Governor’s – $14,381
11. OPA – $13,530
12. DLNR – $12,581
13. Other Programs – $11,159
14. Commerce – $9,931
15. DoL – $5,891
16. Corrections – $2,216

Rota
1. Mayor’s Office – $32,037
2. DPH – $30,712
3. DLNR – $14,538
4. DPS – $13,344
5. DPW – $10,368
6. DoL – $6,752
7. CCA – $6,042
8. Commerce – $5,522
9. Gov. Ofc – $3,687
10. Other Programs – $2,642
11. Immigration – $1,670

Tinian
1. Mayor’s Office – $70,552
2. DPH – $22,791
3. DoF – $19,448
4. DPS – $18,195
5. DLNR – $12,377
6. CCA – $5,477
7. Gov. Ofc – $2,213
8. Commerce – $1,912
9. DPW – $1,245
10. Immigration – $317
11. DoL – $205

The Washington Representative Office spent $32,309 in FY 2005 and $73,672 in FY 2004
The Hawaii Liaison Office spent $8,492 in FY 2005 and $9,007 in FY 2004, while the Guam Liaison Office spent $643 in FY 2005.

TOP TRAVEL SPENDERS PER FISCAL YEAR

FY 2005
1. Department of Public Health – $751,000
2. Governor’s Office – $195,905
3. Department of Finance – $107,077

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $32,037
DPH – $30,712
DLNR – $14,538

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $70,552
DPH – $22,791
DoF – $19,448

FY 2004
DPH – $1.5M
Governor’s Office – $467,159
Community and Cultural Affairs – $145,068

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $60,851
DPH – $39,160
Department of Labor – $25,026

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $81,081
DLNR – $38,951
DPH – $30,838

FY 2003
DPH – $1.2M
Governor’s Office – $381,641
Lt. Governor’s Office – $64,597

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $47,527
DPH – $40,769
CCA – $15,195

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $28,849
DPH – $17,464
DLNR – $8,988

FY 2002
DPH – $1.5M
Governor’s Office – $278,220
Other Programs – $120,867

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $61,125
DPH – $31,365
DLNR – $12,118

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $14,622
DPW – $9,186
DLNR – $6,962

FY 2001
DPH – $1.7M
Governor’s Office – $218,851
Other Programs – $127,385

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $103,076
DPH – $32,923
DoF – $22,038

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $36,151
DPW – $34,664
DLNR – $26,074

FY 2000
DPH – $1.6M
Governor’s Office – $162,004
Other Programs – $119,147

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $162,138
DOF – $28,499
CCA – $27,440

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $51,917
DPH – $39,287
DPW – $15,247

FY 1999
DPH – $1.5M
Other Programs – $240,771
Governor’s Office – $192,393

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $87,715
DoF – $36,004
CCA – $29,018

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $68,587
DPH – $55,267
DLNR – $19,257

FY 1998
DPH – $1.8 M
Governor’s Office – $782,027
Other Programs – $117,940

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $50,141
DPH – $30,137
Immigration – $22,666

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $50,144
DPH – $22,080
DLNR – $14,699

FY 1997
Governor’s Office – $1.7M
DPH – $969,451
DoF – $250,282

Rota
Mayor’s Office – $35,876
DPH – $27,095
DoF – $12,141

Tinian
Mayor’s Office – $121,654
DPS – $26,591
DPH – $17,980