‘Piecemeal PSS budget is political, problematic’

Senate majority leader Paul Manglona described yesterday the House of Representatives’ proposal to enact a separate budget for the Public School System as “misleading, political, and problematic.”

Manglona said that, while he does not oppose the budget increase for PSS, House Bill 14-371 arbitrarily raises the funding for PSS, to the detriment of other agencies.

“This is very misleading to the teachers and administrators. They [House members] made them [teachers and administrators] believe that there’s $50 million but the bill does not identify any sources of funds. What happens to other government agencies? Public Safety? Public Health? It’s forgetting everybody else. This is politics,” said Manglona.

He said this makes it a constitutional issue in that it would immediately create an imbalanced budget as other agencies would be running on “continuing resolution,” yet they are actually getting less funding due to PSS’ increased budget.

“How can other agencies run on the same level as the continuing resolution? You’re essentially taking other agencies’ funding to give to PSS,” he said.

The government has been operating on a $213 million continuing resolution since 2003. Under this funding level, PSS receives $37.2 million.

H.B. 14-371, passed on first reading at the House of Representatives last week, increases the PSS’ budget to $50 million. The measure was introduced by Rep. David Apatang.

Manglona said the Babauta administration made the same $50 million budget submission for PSS, but it offered revenue generating measures to provide the increase.

“That’s what the governor wanted from day one,” said the senator.

In a separate interview, press secretary Peter A. Callaghan said the way to provide an increase to PSS is to provide new sources of revenues.

“We are happy that they recognize PSS but the way to do that is to pass the 2006 proposed budget. What this bill does, it doesn’t identify where to get the $50 million,” said Callaghan.

The administration submitted a $225.8 million spending plan for FY 2006, which includes a $20 million revenue enhancement package.

During a House session last week, lawmakers said that the measure will not pass final reading until both houses pass House Concurrent Resolution 14-3, which identifies available resources for FY 2006. The resolution endorses a $208 million funding for the next fiscal year or a net of $156 million in view of $50 million PSS budget and $2 million deficit reduction.

Lawmakers had agreed that, except for PSS, all other agencies would suffer severe cuts either on a new appropriation or the continuing resolution.

Rep. Clyde Norita, in particular, raised concerns over the reduced funding level of other agencies.

“We’re shifting $13 million to PSS [from $37.2 million]. It will negatively affect the funding of other agencies,” he said.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial also said that “everybody else will be receiving less than what they have now.”

Manglona called on the lower chamber to pass a new budget before Sept. 30. “It’s our job to pass a new budget. If we need to cut budget, then let’s do it, but there should be a new budget,” he said.