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Governor discusses spending plan
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Posted on Jan 20 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has met with various department heads for the first progress report of the Financial Management Improvement Plan, a program designed to improve the government’s use of public funds.
Representatives from the Office of Personnel Management, Department of Finance, Department of Public Health, Office of Management and Budget, Northern Marianas College and Public School System briefed the governor on their respective plans of action.
FMIP implementation leader Daniel H. Nielsen explained the plan was put in place to “use CNMI’s tax dollars in the most efficient way as possible, resulting in the maximum benefit to all residents of the community.”
Nielsen said the program’s objective is to identify how the government may more efficiently and effectively utilize its resources including personnel, finances and facilities, as well as streamline and refocus those operations to meet the changing needs of the commonwealth.
The six main areas to address are information technology, hospital information system, human resource management, procurement, performance-based departmental budgets, and management control and vulnerability analysis.
The government implemented the FMIP since Tenorio signed it in October with the assistance and support of the United States Department of Agriculture Graduate School. The project is also a joint effort with the staff of the Office of the Governor, DOF, OMB, and Office of the Public Auditor.
FMIP chairman Michael S. Sablan said he was pleased with the support of various departments on the project. “The general feeling is the realization that things can be done better and more efficiently,” he said, as he pointed out that what has been lacking is direction on how to make improvements as well as coordination in the various efforts in the past to implement changes. (PR)
