Teno delays SNIMC building renaming
Governor Pedro P. Tenorio rejected yesterday a proposed initiative seeking to rename the Saipan and Northern Islands Municipal Council building to the “Honorable Pedro T. Nakatsukasa Building” due to a snag in the funding proposal.
The governor asked the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation to rework a portion in the proposed measure that seeks to appropriate $10,000 to cover the expense of the dedication and the building renovation.
According to the Commonwealth chief, purporting to authorize the governor to reprogram the sum of $10,000 from the General Fund is in violation of the Planning and Budgeting Act.
He added it is questionable whether a local bill can authorize the governor to reprogram funds from the General Fund, which requires an appropriation by the Legislature through Commonwealth-wide law.
“I strongly support the naming of the Saipan and Northern Island Municipal Council Building after the late Hon. Pedro T. Nakatsukasa. However, there is a problem with the funding proposal that must be corrected before this local bill can be signed into law,” said Mr. Tenorio.
The municipal council structure is being renamed to honor the late Council Secretary Pedro T. Nakatsukasa who died during a routinary hemodialysis at the Commonwealth Health Center last June. He was 53. (MM)
