Senate eyes $10-M for critical programs

Some $10 million is expected to be earmarked by the Senate to key agencies and critical programs of the government before giving its stamp of approval to the proposed FY 2001 budget package drawn up by the House of Representatives.

Senators are using the FY 2000 budget vetoed by Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio as a guideline in the ongoing review to produce their own proposal, according to Fiscal Affairs Committee chair Sen. Edward U. Maratita.

The previous year’s spending level was pegged at $211 million — about $10 million lower than this year’s projected revenues of $221.66 million.

Mr. Maratita said they have agreed to adopt the budget proposal hammered out with the lower house early this year to distribute the resources to various departments and agencies.

The governor vetoed the measure in early June barely four months into the next fiscal year, citing potential deficit spending and layoff of employees due to cuts imposed by lawmakers.

This time, however, Mr. Maratita said they would press the same budget proposal and the $10 million difference to be distributed among agencies and programs which need additional funding.

The money will be set aside for Rota and Tinian municipalities which stand to get additional $1 million each from $14.3 million appropriated by the House.

Another $2 million will go to payment of salary adjustment to former and current government employees eligible to receive the 14-percent across-the-board hike mandated under PL 7-31, according to the Fiscal Affairs chairman.

The Senate likewise will reinstate the $400,000 hazards pay for personnel of the Department of Public Safety as well as the $4 million originally allotted by the administration for utilities payment.

Mr. Maratita said scholarship and medical referral programs would get larger share under the Senate proposal, noting the CNMI owes $5 million from off-island medical services provided to its citizens.

“We hope to pass the budget the week after the primary election on November 4,” he told in an interview yesterday, adding that he wants all members to approve the budget, including Senate Vice President Thomas P. Villagomez who is running with Lt. Gov. Jesus R. Sablan to seek GOP’s nomination for the 2001 gubernatorial election.

But Mr. Maratita said he expects the House to reject the changes made by the Senate to the budget which would force the two chambers to meet in a bicameral committee conference in an effort to iron out the differences.

Mr. Tenorio said early this month he would keep his hands off from the budget review by the Legislature even though it has been behind already as the new fiscal year started on Oct. 1.

The Public School System, the Department of Public Health and DPH remain the three largest recipient of the government resources, cornering nearly half of the $221.66 million estimated income for the next 12 months.

The government has been operating under the FY 99 revised spending level of $210 million since October 1 last year following failure by the 11th Legislature to pass the budget on time, which is stipulated in the Constitution to be before the previous fiscal year ends.