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$255K earmarked for transition, inauguration
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Posted on Dec 05 2005
The Office of the Governor-Elect received $55,000 yesterday for its operations during the transition period.
The CNMI government provided the funds in accordance with the Executive Transition Act.
The money will pay for the temporary office’s supplies, equipment, and vehicles. It will also finance the transition committee’s travels to assess CNMI government offices in Hawaii, Guam, Rota and Tinian, committee chairman Martin Manglona said.
No portion of the amount will go to personnel costs, as all the workers at the Office of the Governor-Elect are volunteers.
“That amount is really not that much, if you look at all the things we need to do,” Manglona said during an interview at the former Covenant Party headquarters. The Gualo Rai building is now being used as office for the transition committee.
In addition to the transition committee funding, the Office of the Governor-Elect has also budgeted $200,000 for the inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 9, 2006.
Manglona maintained, however, that the incoming administration may not use the entire requested amount for the oath-taking rites.
The winning tandem of House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial and Vice Speaker Timothy P. Villagomez is fund-raising for their inauguration, Manglona said.
The Office of the Governor-Elect has been operating since last week.
Yesterday, designated individuals started visiting government offices to assess their financial status, staffing, equipment condition, and overall operation.
Each transition team is required to submit a final report on its findings on Dec. 30, 2005.
