House defers action on PSS request

While acknowledging that it is “politically incorrect” to go against the Public School System especially during an election year, House members expressed hesitation and moved to defer action on PSS’ urgent request for $700,000.

Rep. Heinz S. Hofschneider said the “shortfall” must be clarified: Is it an issue of PSS being underfunded or an issue of delay in issuance of its quarterly funds from the Department of Finance?

“If it’s the withholding of quarterly allotments, that’s to be dealt with by the administration,” he said.

Following a request from PSS, Reps. David Apatang and Jesus Attao introduced House Joint Resolution 14-32, which calls for the reprogramming of funds from the reserved funds for deficit reduction under the continuing resolution “to cover the unanticipated budget shortfall for fiscal year 2005.”

Citing a letter from Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos and Board of Education chair Roman C. Benavente, the resolution said that PSS needs at least $700,000 by the end of FY 2005 for the following:

* $200,000 for payment of annual leave
* $100,000 for payment of school security guards
* $100,000 for bus repair and maintenance
* $50,000 for fuel for buses
* $40,000 for trash collection
* $210,000 for minor repairs and maintenance in schools “that must be completed prior to the opening of school in August.

“These are routine activities in a school year. What’s the real issue here? And we are dipping into the deficit reserve fund of the Commonwealth?” asked Hofschneider.

“It’s politically incorrect to go against PSS especially a few months away from the election. It’s for the kids. It’s the mantra of every election,” he said. “But why are we tapping into the deficit account?”

House floor leader Oscar M. Babauta said, “We need to find out if PSS is short-changed in its allotment.”

Earlier, Babauta noted that PSS, which gets $37.2 million a year from the local government, also receives some $26 million from the federal government every fiscal year. He also said that PSS has $7.2 million in “roll over” federal funds that can be spent.

House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial said that funds cannot be reprogrammed without allotment in the first place.

“It seems we already have an allotment for deficit reduction that we are now allowing reprogramming of funds. The fact is, we can’t reprogram funds that have not yet been allotted. There’s no allotment for deficit reduction,” he said.

Fitial, at the same time, noted that Gov. Juan N. Babauta promised to give PSS $5.1 million a year in Compact impact funds.

“In my discussion with PSS [federal program officer Tim Thornberg], he told me that not even a penny has been allocated to PSS. PSS has not received a penny from Compact impact funds,” said Fitial.

The House moved yesterday to defer action on the joint resolution. It was referred to the House Ways and Means Committee chaired by Rep. Norman S. Palacios.

During a budget hearing last Tuesday, lawmakers also took considerable time in discussing PSS’ funding.

The administration proposes to grant PSS its entire budget request of $50 million for FY 2006.

Sen. Joseph Mendiola, chair of the Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs, cited that PSS stands to receive $5.1 million in Compact money every year over the next four years as promised by Gov. Babauta.