Previous Story
NMC and PSS told: Run to governor for funds
|
Posted on Aug 22 2004
Northern Marianas College and the Public School System should better run to the Governor’s Office rather than the Legislature to get a share of federal funds, says House Committee on Education chair Rep. Justo Quitugua.
Quitugua, in an interview Friday, said the governor “has a lot of resources” at hand.
In particular, Quitugua said the governor has full discretionary authority over the 702 funds totaling over $11 million and some $5 million in Compact-impact funds.
“I recommend that NMC, PSS, and the Board of Education should start meeting with the governor on capital improvement projects because the governor is receiving $11 million while the Legislature doesn’t have money,” said Quitugua.
This came soon after Quitugua, together with the House leadership, tried but failed to appropriate $350,000 for NMC during a session Thursday.
The House leadership, following a meeting with NMC officials Wednesday, inserted the amount in House Bill 14-187, which originally aimed to appropriate $15,000 for the Joeten-Kiyu Library and $80,000 for PSS using Tobacco Control Fund.
Due to opposition from the House minority bloc, the bill was passed without any reference to NMC.
Rep. Arnold Palacios questioned the legality of the use of Tobacco Control funds for NMC/La Fiesta, while Rep. Heinz Hofschneider noted that the La Fiesta project was never approved by the Legislature to begin with.
They also insisted that making a new appropriation for NMC using the fund—which is meant only for specific projects—is not allowed, since the government is operating on a continuing resolution.
The government can’t appropriate beyond the budget [of $213 million],” they said.
The college said it would need a total of $350,000 to pay off its first annual lease installment of $200,000 for La Fiesta in October and fund its operations up to December this year.
