CPA needs $15M for operations

The Commonwealth Ports Authority needs over $15 million for maintenance and operations for fiscal year 2025.

CPA and Ricondo and Associates Inc. has released the fiscal year 2025 budget for CPA and according to the budget, $15,009,075 is needed for maintenance and operation of CNMI’s airports.

Ricondo and Associates Inc. is a consultant of CPA and recommends its budget and rates.

The budget was approved by the CPA board during a regular board meeting back last September.

CPA’s budget comes from fees collected from airline partners who use any of the CNMI airport facilities.

According to documents acquired by Saipan Tribune, CPA says it needs $4.89 million alone for salaries and wages.

Of the reported $15 million budget need, over $2.9 million will go toward utilities while another $2.9 million will go toward insurance.

In addition, CPA says over is $1.3 million is needed to pay contractual services while $870,000 is needed to pay for employee benefits.

CPA has also detailed in its budget that over $817,000 is needed for supplies and materials, $558,000 is needed for repairs and maintenance, and $227,400 will go toward fuel.

CPA has also allotted over $89,000 for travel expenses, while $80,000 has been obligated for legal services among other allocations.

Last fiscal year, due to the budget, CPA implemented a 90% increase in landing fees.

CPA has yet to formally share the new rates that were adopted during the Sept. 27, 2024 board meeting.

In addition, the CPA board also adopted a 79% increase in its terminal rental rate for both the Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport’s main terminal and for the commuter terminals for Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Last fiscal year, CPA terminal rental rates for the Saipan International Airport’s main terminal went up from $19.49 per square foot to $34.92. Meanwhile, the terminal rental rates for all CNMI commuter terminals went up from $7.79 to $13.97.

As for landing fees, with the 90% increase, CPA charged international airline carriers $15.25 per thousand pounds of certified maximum gross landing weight of the aircraft; they were previously being charged $8.01.

As for CNMI commuter terminals, the 90%-increase brought landing fees up from $4.81 to $9.15.