Rota projects get $80K

Acting Gov. Timothy P. Villagomez has approved a bill appropriating $80,000 of poker revenues to Rota programs.

House Local Bill 15-49 became Rota Local Law 15-3 on Tuesday, appropriating $80,000 in revenues collected from licensed poker machine operators in the island.

Rep. Crispin M. Ogo authored the local bill.

The revenues will fund the purchase or lease of a passenger van for the Rota liaison office and repair of the existing van, subsistence allowance for the Rota hemodialysis and cancer patients receiving medical help on Saipan, and the Rota municipality trade mission.

Rota Mayor Joseph Inos was given authority over the funds.

Beginning December 2005, Rota raised its poker license fees from $2,000 to $4,000 per machine.

An additional $6,000 license fee is charged per machine. This is remitted to the general fund.

There are about 80 poker machines on Rota.