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CPA sets pay cuts in 2000
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Posted on Dec 24 1998
Due to declining revenue, the Commonwealth Ports Authority will target a 15 percent reduction in salaries and benefits for fiscal year 2000 and an additional 15 percent in 2001.
According to Carlos H. Salas, executive director, the ports authority has been carrying out various cost-cutting measures such as eliminated overtime hours, salary increases, stopped hiring with the exception of areas involving safety, cross-utilized employees, reduced operation hours and encouraged employees to opt for retirement.
At the same time, travels outside the CNMI or off-island trips for meetings, technical workshops and seminars will be granted on a case-by-case basis while trips for conferences and exhibitions will no longer be allowed. Furthermore, purchases or leases of capital items such as computer, uniforms, supplies, furniture or vehicles will only be allowed if justified.
As a result of the continuous downtrend in tourist arrivals, the board of directors approved a $9.73 million budget for the seaport, an 11 percent drop from fiscal year 1998.
At the airports, the ports authority is targeting a 35 percent cut in the operations cost in the first quarter of 1999 due to the continuous plunge in revenue.
Total operating revenues at the airport for this fiscal year is $2.32 million lower compared to FY 1998. At least 58 percent of the $9.73 million budget for the airport operations will go to salaries and wages of employees.
Of the three airports, Saipan has the biggest budget for personnel amounting to $4.38 million. Combined operating budget for the airport and seaport amounted to $11.10 million for fiscal year 1999.
