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MPLA commissioner given power to reprogram funds
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Posted on Feb 10 2005
In an effort to cut red tape within the agency, the Marianas Public Lands Authority board of directors has granted power to the commissioner to reprogram funds amounting $25,000 or less.
A board resolution adopted Monday stated that to reprogram funds, the commissioner now needs only the approval of the board’s Financial Committee chair, as well as the comptroller’s certification that the move is necessary to meet the MPLA’s financial obligations.
Previous MPLA policy required that any reprogramming requests be approved by the entire board, no matter how small the involved amount is.
By delegating and authorizing the commissioner to reprogram funds, the agency hoped “to allow MPLA to effectively and efficiently carry out its duties and responsibilities without undue delays,” MPLA said.
In an interview, MPLA chair Ana Demapan-Castro noted that some pressing reprogramming requests were not being acted upon immediately because it is difficult to gather all the board members.
Regular board meetings are held only once a month, but the board conducts special meetings on need basis.
“To speed things up, we have decided to authorize the commissioner to reprogram any amount below $25,000, as long as it is within the approved budget,” Demapan-Castro said.
The board resolution was adopted at a board meeting on Rota Monday.
