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Saipan lawmakers approve $3.264M in poker money for SHEFA, other programs
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Posted on Nov 27 2013
Saipan lawmakers passed yesterday morning a local bill appropriating $3.264 million in poker license fees to fund the Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance, programs, and a host of precinct projects.
By a vote of 18-0, House Local Bill 18-26, Substitute 1, Draft 1 passed the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation at 11:32am.
The measure, authored by Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan), now goes to the governor for action.
Vice Speaker Frank Dela Cruz (Ind-Saipan) offered a floor amendment that the delegation adopted.
Of the total amount, $3 million is for SHEFA. The amendments didn’t touch this amount reserved for actual assistance to students.
The changes were mostly on the distribution of the $264,000.
After substitution and floor amendment, the remaining funds are distributed as follows: $100,000 for SHEFA operations; $25,000 for the Saipan Little League; $8,000 for the 30th Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival; $5,000 for the Agricultural Fair; $10,000 for the Saipan Fishing Derby; $10,000 for Liberation Day activities; and $25,000 for SNILD’s operational funds.
Also on the list are the following: $34,000 for the purchase of an upright lifter, trailer, as well as repair and maintenance and rental equipment for the Office of the Mayor of Saipan; $30,000 for the Carolinian Affairs Office for the development of an island cultural village; and $19,000 for the construction and paving of the Gillette Gymnasium Road, which will have matching funds from a private company doing business in the area.
Saipan Mayor Donald Flores, who has long asked the Saipan delegation to fund the mayor’s office’s purchase of a bucket truck, which was later changed to an upright lifter, thanked the lawmakers for finally appropriating money for the equipment and related expenses.
“This is one of the best Thanksgiving gifts for the people because this equipment will benefit many in the community,” Flores told Saipan Tribune after the SNILD session.
Yumul, during the session, requested the Saipan mayor to ensure that personnel that are going to use the upright lifter will undergo training for their safety and protection.
