PSS to get $10M in supplemental appropriations

The CNMI Public School System would get the bigger share of the pie once the supplemental appropriations bill becomes law. Rep. Antonio M. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) would introduce in today’s House session House Bill 19-212 at the House chamber on Capital Hill.

Sablan chairs the House Ways and Means Committee and helped put together the CNMI budget that was signed into law by Gov. Ralph DLG Torres two days before the 2016 fiscal year ended.

HB 19-212 will be funding 11 government agencies and various programs. It allocates $10,241,826 for PSS, with money to be used to pay outstanding obligations and fund their other projects.

A total of $5,541,826 is allotted to buy instructional materials for language arts, math, science, and social studies, while $2.7 million is allocated for the payment of PSS’ outstanding balance with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. while $1 million will be used to buy five school buses.

The Tinian Elementary School and Tinian Junior/Senior High School will be getting $500,000. TES’ perimeter fence needs to be replaced while both Tinian schools require repairs and other renovations.

Rota PSS will be given $300,000 that will be divided evenly between the Sinapalo Elementary School and the Dr. Rita Inos Junior/Senior High School. The money will be used for the daily operations of both schools, and to purchase furniture and fixtures and repair benches and other facilities.

Saipan public schools will be receiving $100,000 as payment for repairs and other maintenance work while another $100,000 is reserved to pay PSS’ balance with school meal vendors.

Payments for land compensation—either stipulated, consented, and or other judgments—will be receiving $9 million, the Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. is reserved $7 million, while $3,624,116 will go to for the central government to pay their financial obligations with CUC, while $3.5 million will be equally distributed as a bonus to all retirees or their beneficiaries.

The Fuel Adjustment Clause rate subsidy is reserved $2 million while another $2 million is set aside for the Medical Referral Program—$1.6 million would cover the expenses incurred at the Guam Memorial Hospital and the remaining $400,000 is for program operations.

All active and inactive employees will be receiving $1,451,365 as payment for their outstanding lump-sum wages that were frozen at Step 12 in accordance with Public Law 10-76 and amended by PL 11-59.

The Office of the Governor’s Substance Abuse and Rehabilitation Program and the Community Guidance Center’s programs and operations will be receiving $1 million and the appropriation shall no longer be reprogrammed. The same amount would go to the Northern Marianas College, while $150,000 is allotted to the Northern Marianas Trades Institute.