$1.6-M earmarked for Saipan Mayor's Office
Saipan lawmakers on Friday approved three appropriation bills amounting to $1.6 million, the biggest chunk of which will be earmarked for the Mayor’s Office to cover budget shortfall in its operational costs.
The office stands to receive $683,700 under the twin measures sponsored by Rep. Jesus T. Attao once Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio signs them into law.
From that amount, $171,700 from the fees collected from bingo, cockfight and batu operations on Saipan will be used to purchase of parts and heavy equipment as well as equipment rental fees for the municipality.
The other anticipated income, about $512,000 collected from its share of the poker machines’ license fees will be set aside also for the same purposes, plus costs of the relocation of the office’s Heavy Equipment and Maintenance Shop.
The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation granted at the same time expending and reprogramming authority to the mayor for the funds which will be made available without any fiscal year limitation.
Another measure identified about $979,725 from the landing fees paid by passengers going to Managaha island, which local lawmakers allocated to several government offices. The breakdown:
– $300,000 for the Division of Public Lands
– $300,000 for the Commonwealth Museum
– $150,000 for Saipan Youth Program
– $100,725 for Saipan Cultural and Performing
Arts Center
– $100,000 for the reconstruction of the old
NTTU diving board facility at Tanapag Harbor and for the construction of a small boat launching facility west of Tanapag Social Hall
– $15,000 for promotion of Canoe Culture and other related activities, including purchase of canoe
– and $7,000 each for the Indigenous Affairs Office and the Carolinian Affairs Office.
The bill, also sponsored by Mr. Attao, granted the finance secretary the authority to regulate and control the expenditure of funds, although expending powers rest on each respective head of the office.
They will be required to submit a quarterly report to the SNILD chair, Senate Floor Leader Pete P. Reyes, to update the delegation regarding use of the funds.
