Agitated over not getting its constitutionally mandated share of 25 percent of next fiscal year\u2019s budget, the Public School System may submit a certified question with the CNMI Supreme Court to settle once and for all what constitutes its share.<\/p>\n
At a Board of Education meeting held yesterday, Herman T. Guerrero said the board has concerns about the Legislature\u2019s failure to allocate 25 percent of the general fund to the Public School System, based on the constitutional mandate.<\/p>\n
The question that PSS wants answered, among others, is what constitutes the \u201cgeneral fund,\u201d whether PSS is entitled to the gross or the net, when the governor submits his budget.<\/p>\n
\u201cOnce the [fiscal year] 2018 budget is signed into law, then the Legislature needs to gear up and address the supplemental budget and not wait. Right now, we have some concerns that, if they [lawmakers] keep delaying, then perhaps the compensation plan we intend to implement might have to be delayed,\u201d Guerrero said. \u201cIf that is the case, I\u2019ll tell the teachers, let\u2019s go up to the Legislature and lobby up there. I would like to see one member of the Legislature say no to those teachers.\u201d <\/p>\n
The board has already approved a plan to increase the salaries of teachers. What\u2019s needed is funding.<\/p>\n
According to Guerrero, members of the Legislature themselves have been asking the question that need to be addressed once and for all: what is PSS entitled to in terms of the revenue of the Commonwealth.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe board has approved asking the certified questions. We are currently working on the questions. But how [we will phrase it] is still with the legal counsel, who is working on it,\u201d Guerrero said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe board members will review it and see whether that is the question we would like to ask the Supreme Court,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
According to Guerrero, the CNMI Supreme Court is the only body that can make a final determination on the matter. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt keeps vacillating back and forth. The administration has different interpretations, the members of the Legislature has different interpretations and we at PSS have different interpretations,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are saying that if we are entitled, then we should given that. The governor keeps identifying funds from the casino gross revenue tax and appropriating that. When you identify those funds, then PSS is also entitled to those funds. So\u2026I hope he did not spend all of it already because we are entitled to it,\u201d Guerrero added.<\/p>\n
At a Senate session last Sept. 16, when the budget bill was taken up, Sen. Paul Manglo\u00f1a (Ind-Rota) pointed out that the CNMI Constitution mandates a budget for PSS that is 25 percent \u201cof what is considered the general fund.\u201d With general fund revenues estimated at $46 million, 25 percent of that is $11 million, he said.<\/p>\n
Manglo\u00f1a also believes PSS should receive 25 percent of casino-generated gross revenue tax. He said that this year\u2019s CGRT is estimated at about $58 million and that PSS should receive $14.5 million, a quarter of the total amount.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor this year so far, we have not given PSS a single dollar. Yet we have passed several CGRT piecemeal appropriations totaling more than $28 million,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
According to Guerrero, if the lawmakers are looking the other way and do not want to raise the issue with the governor, then they are failing in their constitutional responsibilities.<\/p>\n
\u201cTheir silence speaks volumes that they are not really committed to the Public School System. The Legislature keeps doing this earmarking over the years, so basically, they are intentionally moving money away from the general funds and the PSS,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that PSS asked for a budget of $54 million, yet was only appropriated $35 million to $36 million.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Legislature failed in their duties last year and the current fiscal year, which is about to ready to be over. We also requested money for life insurance or health insurance\u2026the matching component thereof\u2026but they failed to include money in it. So we are scrambling around. We really hope they take their duties seriously,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Guerrero said the certified questions may be submitted in two weeks.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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