{"id":426825,"date":"2024-12-02T14:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-12-02T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/?p=426825"},"modified":"-0001-11-30T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"-0001-11-29T14:00:00","slug":"SNILD-appropriates-75K-to-DPS","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saipantribune.com\/index.php\/SNILD-appropriates-75K-to-DPS\/","title":{"rendered":"SNILD appropriates $75K to DPS"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation has unanimously voted in favor of passing House Local Bill 23-68 which essentially appropriates funds collected from e-gaming local license fees to the Department of Public Safety for operations.<\/p>\n

Last week, the delegation held a regular session where House Local Bill 23-68 was introduced and placed on calendar for a vote.<\/p>\n

The bill, introduced by Rep. Ralph Yumul (Ind-Saipan), essentially appropriates $205,000 from revenues collected for the Third Senatorial District (Saipan) pursuant to Saipan Local Law 22-06.<\/p>\n

Saipan Local Law 22-06 essentially imposes a local license fee on all electronic gaming devices as defined in Title 6 section 3154 (a) (4), inclusive of poker amusement machines on the same e-gaming premises as defines in Title 6 section 3 l 56 (b), located within the Third Senatorial District.<\/p>\n

Specifically, of the $205,000, $75,000 will be appropriated to DPS for operations while $120,000 will be appropriated to SNILD for its operations and $10,000 will go toward various projects within Precinct 3.<\/p>\n

During the session, Rep. Marissa Flores (Ind-Saipan) pleaded for her colleagues to support the passage of the bill.<\/p>\n

\u201cI plea for the appropriation that will be given to DPS as I do understand there is a lame duck so we would need a majority for this to pass. The magic number is 16. Please support HLB 23-68<\/p>\n

After a short discussion, the bill passed the delegation with 18 yes votes.<\/p>\n

During a budget hearing earlier this year, DPS Commissioner Anthony Macaranas emotionally pleaded with the members of the House to help him provide officers with the resources needed to remain safe while carrying out their role in keeping the CNMI communities safe.<\/p>\n

Initially, DPS submitted a budget request of $9.2 million to the Office of Management and Budget under the Office of the Governor.<\/p>\n

However, the Office of the Governor proposed a budget of $5.6 million for DPS.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe department currently needs a lot; from training, to equipment, to personnel, even to body armor that our officers need, there\u2019s a lot of needs. Even at night, I can\u2019t sleep thinking of my officers. Just over the weekend, a report of a citizen firing a gun randomly, not knowing if it\u2019s toward another person or an officer. I am responsible for the community and these officers. I just want the department to have everything it needs to meet the demands of the community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Macaranas expressed that his priority is funding training for officers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI need my officers to be in sync with today\u2019s challenges. There\u2019s a lot of things happening and yes funding is an issue. In the old days, they tell us to think about tomorrow and not to worry about today, this is what I\u2019m doing, I\u2019m thinking about our tomorrow. [I\u2019m trying] to be an effective leader because the lives of our officers are under my watch,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Last week, the Saipan and Northern Island Legislative Delegation held a regular session where House Local Bill 23-68 was introduced and placed on calendar for a vote.<\/p>\n

-CONTRIBUTED PHOTO
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