$100K earmarked for legislators’ pet projects

In a move that will satisfy those seeking public offices, nearly $100,000 in remaining funds from earlier appropriation measures have been earmarked by the government for two pet projects of the Legislature in time for the November midterm elections.

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has signed into law two bills passed by lawmakers that have set aside some $91,240.22 for the construction of drainage and road paving on central Saipan as well as $8,000 for the San Roque basketball court and outdoor stage.

Both measures were offered by members of the House of Representatives for Precinct 3 and Precinct 4, respectively.

The governor, however, warned lawmakers against passing any legislation seeking reprogramming of capital improvement project funds that are believed to be unspent from previous allocation without guaranteeing the availability of the money.

The San Roque project will receive funding from an initial appropriation law passed during the Ninth Legislature, which provided the budget for the construction of Tanapag Elementary School.

Tenorio said that although he signed House Bill 11-379 to ensure funds for the proposed basketball court, the present Legislature must address existing contradictions regarding reprogramming of the funds under Public Law 9-1.

“I assume this new law implicitly amends the existing contradicting provisions as far as this particular unexpended fund is concerned,” he pointed out in his transmittal letter to the presiding officers of the Eleventh Legislature.

Likewise, Tenorio cautioned legislators against future reappropriation of CIP funds without getting the go-signal from the CIP administrator and the finance secretary.

He said he signed into law HB 11-406 financing the drainage and road paving for Precinct 3 “to accommodate these important and much needed projects.” The money will come from the balance of Public Law 9-24, which funded several CIP infrastructure plans five years ago.

“However, please note, the Office of Insular Affairs has requested that no CIP funds be reprogrammed until such time that an approved project is certified completed and closed,” Tenorio pointed out.

Finance Sec. Lucy DLG. Nielsen previously has warned lawmakers against reappropriating anticipated balance from earlier funding allocated by the Legislature as the House Ways and Means Committee scrambles for available funds to push pet projects.

Although the remaining funds appear on records, these money are no longer available for reprogramming into CIP being targeted by legislators for their respective voting precincts and are now part of the cumulative deficit of the government, according to the finance official.