Delegation approves $3M for Tinian’s FY 2012 budget

The Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation passed a $3 million municipal budget for fiscal year 2012 that includes $527,000 for public programs such as $160,000 in retroactive pay for over 100 government employees and no work hour cuts for covered personnel, during a session that lasted around 10pm on Thursday.

Tinian lawmakers originally set aside only $80,000 for the retroactive pay but later doubled the amount. Delegation members spent days finalizing the budget bill and held a session until late Thursday night to pass it.

The local budget bill is now with the Tinian Municipal Council chaired by Patrick A. Manglona, before heading to Gov. Benigno R. Fitial for action.

Senate Vice President Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), head of the delegation, said yesterday he’s optimistic that the municipal council will concur with the budget bill for the governor’s approval.

Hofschneider said if all goes according to plan, this will be the first time that a Tinian will have a municipal budget since fiscal year 2006.

Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz separately said yesterday that no budget is perfect but hopes that the projected revenue of $3 million will really be achieved.

Dela Cruz said he was projecting that only $2.3 million to $2.5 million in revenue will be generated from the casino industry in fiscal year 2012, an amount closer to the $1.2 million in actual collection in 2011.

“The delegation is optimistic, but I want to be on the conservative side. Last fiscal year, we had two months of almost no revenue, and if that thing happen again, we won’t have $3 million collection,” he said.

Nevertheless, Dela Cruz said the Tinian leadership promised to pass an annual budget and they are fulfilling that promise.

Rep. Trenton Conner (R-Tinian) said he’s comfortable with the budget bill. Besides Conner and Hofschneider, the other delegation members are Sens. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) and Henry San Nicolas (Cov-Tinian).

Under Tinian Local Bill 17-1, DS1, there will no longer be continuing resolution and the leadership has to pass a balanced fiscal year 2013 budget by Oct. 1, 2012.

The budget bill’s total estimated revenue for fiscal year 2012 is $3,026,250.

Of this amount, $2.5 million comes from casino tax revenue, $500,000 from Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino’s casino license fee, $20,250 from device fees, and $6,000 from employee fees.

The bill gives $527,000 to seven special programs, including $200,000 for the Tinian Municipal Scholarship, $160,000 for retroactive pay, $70,000 for the Tinian Medical Assistance Program, $50,000 for educational programs, $22,000 for community programs and $5,000 for senior citizens program.

This appropriations bill covers personnel and operations cost of the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission, Tinian Municipal Treasurer, the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan, and the Tinian Municipal Council.