In lobbying for a $3.2-million budget next fiscal year, Saipan Mayor David Apatang said he would like to have all his furloughed staff back.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the House Ways and Means\u2019 budget hearing last Tuesday, Apatang told lawmakers that he needs all his staff for his office\u2019s upcoming projects, as well as to continue other programs to benefit the community.<\/p>\n
The Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office is asking to be allotted $3.2 million in fiscal year 2021, which is $1.8 million more than the $1.4 million that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres is proposing for the office.<\/p>\n
At the budget hearing Tuesday, Apatang said he understands the CNMI\u2019s current fiscal situation as impacted by the loss of tourism due to COVID-19 but he also underscored the need to maintain his office\u2019s operations, in terms of staffing and maintaining their equipment.<\/p>\n
With projects in line for the year, particularly the Street Naming and House Numbering System, the Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office would be needing a core number of individuals for its implementation, which include mapping, the 911 system and the data support system, he said. These are on top of the current projects that the office is implementing such as the beautification programs, junk clearing, and the animal shelter, among others. <\/p>\n
With the help of the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, the Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office was able to obtain equipment for its clearing operations, but would need funding for maintenance and parts. <\/p>\n
\u201cThat is very important for us to continue to service our community here throughout the island, and work with the Marianas Visitors Authority also to clean up the tourist sites,\u201d Apatang said. \u201cI would like to have everybody back but we have to wait and see \u2019til our economy goes back to normal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Twenty-eight of the office\u2019s 71 staff were let go soon after the Office of the Governor cut everyone\u2019s 2020 budget by 48%, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The Saipan Mayor\u2019s Office\u2019s budget officer, Terri Camacho, told lawmakers at the hearing that their office \u201cdoes not have enough money to lead [them] all up to the end of the fiscal year with the general fund.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added that 10 of their staff are under the general fund, 33 are funded by the CARES Act, and 28 were terminated. The work hours of the staff that remained have also been cut to 64 hours.<\/p>\n
In the budget proposed by the governor, no funding was also allotted for the office\u2019s operations, according to Camacho. \u201cOur operation budget is very critical because we use this budget for supplies, specifically for the tools and machineries that we have, and equipment, like our chainsaw. We need to get chains for our chainsaw. We need to get stuff for our bush cutters, and safety things for the staff.\u201d<\/p>\n
Camacho added that the only thing provided for the mayor\u2019s office is their rental, communication, personnel services at $8,000, fuel at $90,000, Official representation, and utilities. There is no budget for repair and maintenance of their vehicles and equipment.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe try to stay within\u2026what we have in the general fund. \u2026I don\u2019t know if the mayor can live with this budget and do all his duties and respond to the needs of the community with nothing at all,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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