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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
The measure, authored by Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan), now goes to the governor for action.<\/p>\n
Vice Speaker Frank Dela Cruz (Ind-Saipan) offered a floor amendment that the delegation adopted.<\/p>\n
Of the total amount, $3 million is for SHEFA. The amendments didn\u2019t touch this amount reserved for actual assistance to students.<\/p>\n
The changes were mostly on the distribution of the $264,000.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s operational funds.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Saipan Mayor Donald Flores, who has long asked the Saipan delegation to fund the mayor\u2019s office\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is one of the best Thanksgiving gifts for the people because this equipment will benefit many in the community,\u201d Flores told Saipan Tribune after the SNILD session.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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