CSC prioritizes funding for trainings, legal counsel

The CNMI Civil Service Commission will prioritize trainings and hiring a legal counsel if its proposed budget for fiscal year 2016 is approved.

Officials, headed by Commissioner Herman “HR” Deleon Guerrero, faced members of the House Committee on Ways and Means during a budget hearing on Tuesday on Capital Hill.

The commission is proposing an estimated $713,000 for fiscal year 2016, which is slightly lower than the government’s proposed $752,000.

The trainings will get the bulk of the budget, as well as hiring of a legal counsel and executive assistant, Guerrero said.

In October, the commission initiated an information program to ensure that employees are aware of their rights and obligations as government employees. It issued a series of bulletins covering a range of topics related to the Civil Service personnel regulations and other employment issues. To date, the commission has issued three bulletins on political coercion, Public Service System Rules & Regulations, and performance evaluations.