Torres inks appropriation laws

On May 25, 2018, Gov. Ralph DLG. Torres signed into law two local bills that appropriates a total of $3.4 million to various projects on Saipan and Tinian.

House Local Bill 20-64, D1, which allocates $100,000 from the local license fees collected from pachinko and poker machines on Tinian, are appropriated as follows: $74,000 for the Tinian Little League (CNMI District Tournament and Asia-Pacific Tournament in Korea); and $26,000 for professional services of the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission.

Offered by the Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation, this bill becomes Tinian Local Law 20-12.

House Local Bill 20-65, S1, D1, which appropriates $3.3 million from revenues collected from local license fees of pachinko and poker machines on Saipan, are to be expended as follows:

-$1.72 million to Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance, provided that $220,000 of the $1.72 million shall be reserved for SHEFA personnel and operations;

-$30,000 for the Saipan Little League;

-$84,000 for the Commonwealth Zoning board;

-$242,000 for the Office of the Mayor of Saipan for its operations;

-$135,000 for the Office of the Mayor of the Northern Islands for boat charters, operations and maintenance, repairs and renovations of municipal buildings, offices, and capital equipment;

-$85,000 for the paving and construction of Aluu Drive and road bumps in Essok Avenue in Precinct 1;

-$50,000 for the renovation and upgrade of the Susupe Manhoben Center in Precinct 2;

-$75,000 for As Falape Road, Apengagh Street, and Chalan Pale Arnold drainage improvement in Puerto Rico, and $25,000 for Dotse Place for the PVC waterline project in Precinct 3;

-$50,000 for the upgrade and refurbishing of the basketball courts and for the construction of road bumps in Precinct 4;

-$50,000 for the upgrade of the basketball court in Kagman 2;

-$120,000 for the Liberation Day activities;

-$30,000 for the Annual Flame Tree Arts Festival;

-$23,000 for the Voices of the CNMI Saipan Chapter for their participation in the 2018 Self Advocacy Being Empowered in Alabama;

-$5,000 for the Annual Saipan International Fishing Tournament;

-$96,000 for the Northern Marianas Athletics, for, but not limited to, the 2018 Oceania Micronesian Regional Championship to be hosted on Saipan;

-$23,000 to defray expenses for the CNMI National Baseball Team for the upcoming Micronesian Games in Yap;

-$125,000 for the Drug Court for treatment and operations;

-$100,000 for the Northern Marianas Trades Institute;

-$32,000 for the Office of Parole for the purchase of vehicle for its operations;

-$100,000 for the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance for its operations;

-$100,000 for the Legislative Bureau for the purchase of a generator system and operations;

-$25,000 for the CNMI Mock Trial Program;

Unanimously passed by the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation, this bill becomes Saipan Local Law 20-24. (PR)