Flashback December 25, 2002-2004

[B][U]December 25, 2002[/U][/B] [B]’Grinch’ casts spell on NMI[/B]

It’s probably the last thing CNMI taxpayers want to hear on Christmas Day but Gov. Juan N. Babauta could no longer put off reporting the sad news: Tax rebate/refund checks will not be released for the holidays. This comes following the failure of the government and the Bank of Guam to zero in on an agreement on the $19-million loan for the payment of rebates/refunds. Babauta and Lt. Gov. Diego T. Benavente yesterday apologized for the government’s failure to have the checks out by Christmas, but assured that other potential sources are being looked at to meet the overdue rebate/refund payments.

[B]Disaster food stamps for Rota OK’d[/B]

The U.S. Department of Agriculture gave the people of Rota a timely Christmas gift, following its approval of the Commonwealth’s request for the distribution of emergency food stamps on the island. The Nutrition Assistance Program of the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs yesterday started processing the applications of Rota residents for emergency food stamps, as the island reels from the assault of Supertyphoon Pongsona. “We mobilized people already,” DCCA Secretary Juan L. Babauta said, adding that two representatives from the local NAP office were on Rota yesterday to start receiving applications.

[B][U]December 25,2003[/U][/B] [B]’Cash flow woes expected'[/B]

The current cash flow problem besetting the Babauta administration is not really surprising because it pretty much conforms with the House of Representatives’ projections for this fiscal year, particularly the first quarter, according to House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider. At the same time, he pointed out that, although there is heightened economic activity in the first quarter due to the holiday retail sales, this will not be reflected in the books until February and March-the last two months of the second quarter. “I think that I’ve been quite consistent-and right-in our projections for this year. And traditionally, the first quarter is always problematic in terms of cash flow because of the holidays. Revenue is always expected to dip during the first quarter going toward the holidays. By the second and third quarter, you will begin to see the effect of consumer behavior in the first quarter. The collection would be due in the second and third quarter, so it is expected that the first quarter is always low,” he told reporters yesterday.

[B]CUC board approves retro pay[/B]

The majority members of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. board voted to give ahead of the Department of Finance the retroactive pay amounting to some $410,000 due the CUC personnel for year 1993. The decision now requires the board to touch its already committed payment check to the Office of the Public Auditor and the Department of Finance. The retro pay would be sourced from the CUC’s second payment check worth $588,000, which is intended to settle its outstanding accounts with OPA. CUC owes the OPA some $4 million in unpaid contribution spanning six years.

[B][U]December 25,2004[/U][/B] [B]Administration wants lump sum funding for PSS[/B]

The Executive Branch is planning to use Compact money as leverage for a $20-million lump sum loan from the NMI Retirement Fund to finance the Public School System’s capital improvement projects. This came following the governor’s announcement that he would commit the entire Compact Impact funds totaling $5.1 million a year in the next four years to PSS. The administration favors giving the whole $20 million to PSS instead of giving the amount in $5.1 million increments, citing that the former would result in greater efficiency.

[B]’Deteriorating classrooms pose a hazard to students'[/B]

A Board of Education official said that the current state of disrepair and deterioration of classrooms on Saipan pose a hazard to students. BOE secretary-treasurer Marja Lee Taitano said the use of Public School System facilities as evacuation centers during natural disasters have also wrought havoc on the school calendar. In a board meeting held Monday, Taitano narrated to the board her recent inspection of school facilities around the island.