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SNILD moves to bail out Saipan Mayor’s Office
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Posted on Sep 20 1999
In a bid to save 11 full-time employees of the Saipan Mayor’s Office as well as to meet anticipated budget deficit, the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation on Friday passed an appropriation measure to set aside some $275,150 from gambling fees for the cash-strapped agency.
Out of the total amount, close to $156,000 will be earmarked for personnel costs, including the salary of 11 staff members whose contracts were not funded under the FY 1999 budget approved by the Legislature.
According to Rey Diaz, budget officer at the mayor’s office, this will only cover payroll for the present fiscal year ending September 30.
The office will still face over $100,000 budget deficit by the end of this month which officials have blamed to the 13.4 percent budget cut implemented by the Tenorio administration in November last year.
SNILD decided to allot $119,237 from revenues of the local fees collected from cockfight, batu and bingo for other personnel costs needed to pay municipal employees as well as for the purchase of parts, equipment rental fees and fuel requirements by the mayor’s office.
Although relieved by the additional appropriation, the office said they will need more money as their fuel costs alone are short by about $25,000 to carry out its responsibilities, such as paving secondary roads.
But Finance Sec. Lucy DLG Nielsen said only about $108,747 remains in the account, calling on SNILD to adjust the initial appropriation to what is available.
The Saipan Mayor’s office has begged the local legislative delegation for additional budget since early this year following serious cash-flow problems brought about by the across-the-board budget reduction.
Legislators tried to tap funds from poker license fees, but finance officials said the money was not forthcoming until next year, prompting them to seek other means.
The new measure, proposed by Vice Speaker Jesus T. Attao, now heads to the governor for his consideration.
