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Lack of Liberation funding worries Flores
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Posted on Feb 13 2012
Saipan Mayor Donald G. Flores expressed concern over a local appropriations bill that does not contain any funding for the 2012 Liberation Day or Fourth of July festivities.
“Without funding for this important recurring, annual event, we do not know how to fund it or where to find the funds for it,” Flores said in a Feb. 2 letter to Rep. Ramon A. Tebuteb (R-Saipan).
Flores urged Tebuteb, chairman of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, to consider providing appropriation to cover expenses for the biggest community event in the CNMI by revising House Local Bill 17-68.
The Fourth of July celebration’s expenses totaled $69,281.51 in 2011, exceeding the budget by over $24,000.
The biggest expense, $12,960, was for the rental of tents for the various food and non-food vendor booths.
Other major expenses were emcee and entertainment for $8,774, stage and sound system at $7,900, raffle prizes at $6,000, and meal coupons at $5,250.
The Saipan delegation had allocated $45,000 for the Fourth of July festivities.
To cover the rest of the expenses, the Mayor’s Office used concession booth fees in the amount of $13,940, ticket sales of Liberation Queen candidates at $11,850, balance from the previous Liberation Day festivities at $2,188.87, proceeds from Liberation rides at $1,168.35, donations, at $550, and raffle ticket sales at $426.
“If and when funds are appropriated and made available to the Office of the Mayor of Saipan for this year’s July Fourth celebration, we will take necessary steps to ensure that the total expenditures do not exceed that of last year’s,” promised Flores.
