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$1.27M appropriation measure for Tinian passed
A bill that seeks to appropriate over $1.27 million from the annual Casino License fee now heads to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres after it was unanimously passed yesterday.
The Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation unanimously passed yesterday Rep. Edwin Aldan’s (R-Tinian) House Local Bill 20-44, which re-appropriates over $1.27 million from the annual casino license fee to various programs of Tinian.
The Department of Finance pursuant to Public Law 20-10, identified $2 million of the $15 million annual license renewal fee for the sole casino on Saipan available for appropriation for local purposes.
According to P.L. 20-10, $2 million is set aside for Rota while the remaining goes to Saipan.
“We are very pleased to at least get a portion of [the annual casino license fee] this time and to fund many of the operations and personnel [needs] of the municipality of Tinian,” said Sen. Jude Hofschneider (R-Tinian), who also serves as chair of the delegation.
“We are very grateful that we are able to continue funding some of the social programs, youth programs, and other elements of social services that [has been offered over the years], so we are pleased with that,” he added.
More than half of the appropriation, or exactly $614,563, is allocated toward the payrolls of the Tinian Mayor’s Office personnel, the Tinian Municipal Treasurer personnel, and the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission personnel. The amount covers the salaries until the end of fiscal year 2018.
“We initially received partial funding which would be used up [this coming February 2018], so what H.L.B. 20-44 does is if enacted, it would provide us the necessary funding to pay our personnel up to the end of the fiscal year 2018,” said Tinian Mayor Joey Patrick San Nicolas, adding that several sports programs along with health and wellness programs were also funded by the appropriation.
“We are very happy with the outcome of this bill,” he said.
Initially, the $1.27 million was supposedly appropriated toward the payment of 25 percent of retiree’s pension for Tinian residents. Since the passage of P.L. 20-10 in late September 2017, retiree pensions would be obtained from the Casino Gross Revenue Tax collections.
