PSS submits expenditure report
The Public School System has expended a total of $35.9 million for personnel and operational costs including the purchase of additional school buses, books and materials, and other unanticipated needs for Fiscal Year 2000, a PSS quarterly fiscal year report disclosed.
The report, which was transmitted last week to the Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio and leaders of the Legislature, further revealed that $32.7 million out of PSS’ total expenditure went to personnel while $2.96 million was allocated for operational expenses.
The total FY 2000 expenditure figure is a five percent less than last year’s overall expenses which amounted to some $37.8 million, the report cited.
According to acting Fiscal Budget Officer Bill Matson, PSS has initially under obligated the total amount of the PSS budget authority by $28,619. Including expenses incurred by the Board of Education, PSS now has a total balance of $35,843.
Meanwhile, after being granted a broad reprogramming authority to procure the additional buses and school materials, PSS was also able to stretch the limited budget to address other obligations not fully funded within Public Law 11-41.
The reprogramming authority further allowed PSS the use of office and operational supplies and other items such as Xerox paper, additional school bus parts, etc.
“We also booked the required one percent reduction in funds by the reallocation of cash from PSS to the Office of the Public Auditor,” said Mr. Matson.
PSS earlier obtained additional funding assistance from the Governor’s Office to support the personnel and operational needs of the newly-opened Kagman Elementary School, contributing to its FY 2000 expenditure. The government last September transferred to PSS the authority to spend $250,000 both for the new school’s personnel and instruction. Some $195,000 was reserved for personnel costs while the remaining $55,000 was diverted to the acquisition of instructional materials such as textbooks. (MM)
