PSS needs strong comptroller

The Public School System is the largest government agency tasked with providing education to hundreds of students between Rota, Tinian and Saipan. It’s an agency that has an annual budget of more than $40 million. This doesn’t necessarily include federal funds for various programs under PSS.

It stands to reason, therefore, that it must retain the services of a fully rounded comptroller or budget man to handle its financial affairs daily. This person must have wide experience in the accrual accounting system being used by the local government, quite separate and apart from the cash and carry system in the private sector.

In concert with the board of education and commissioner, he should be able to give both a quick glimpse into the financial posture of PSS at any given time. The comptroller should also be able to recommend how certain funds could be juggled for urgent needs to maximise use of every penny in the coffers of PSS. This should do justice to PSS, students, teachers and taxpayers.

Indeed, nothing is easy in the collective effort to strengthen the curriculum of the public school system so that the goal of providing quality education is attained under the concept of “more for less”. Amid declining revenues coupled with the upward spiral in the demands for quality education and the need to formulate a master plan in education for the next century, the task indeed is daunting.

This recommendation must not be viewed as a criticism for we too share the concerns of the commissioner and board of education in their dedicated efforts to muddle through these difficult times. The substantial decline in the NMI’s revenue should and must be a concern to all especially money managers who must come to grips with the fact that this is one time in our developmental history when we must learn to live with “more for less”.

The situation puts to real test the issue of leadership when everything seems uphill amid the devastating decline in revenue generation. It especially puts all agencies under the limelight in terms of how they dispose of hard to come by local revenue. Lest we forget, although tidings of Japan and Asian countries have been trumpeted as having turned the corner, this message was equally issued with guarded optimism. If it works, its trickle effects take at least two to three years before the NMI benefits positively from Japan and Asia’s economic resurgence.

In the meantime, we must learn to live the difficult reality of “less for more”. In this vein, we strongly recommend that PSS retains a superbly qualified comptroller to handle its financial affairs. Si Yuus Maase`!

Strictly a personal view. John S. DelRosario Jr. is publisher of Saipan Tribune