Tinian’s proposed $3M budget includes $80K in retro pay for 100-plus employees

The Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation is poised to pass this afternoon a $3 million municipal budget for fiscal year 2012 that includes some $80,000 in retroactive pay for over 100 government employees.

The estimated $3 million budget for fiscal year 2012 is higher than the $1.2 million in actual collection from the casino industry in fiscal year 2011, said Tinian delegation chair and Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider (R-Tinian).

Hofschneider said the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino’s aggressive marketing campaign and brighter prospects gave them optimism that projected revenues will reach $3 million in 2012.

But in a session yesterday afternoon, the four-member delegation held off action on the budget bill because of remaining concerns about provisions such as work hour cuts and other austerity measures.

“But we hope to pass it Wednesday afternoon when we resume the session. If we pass this, this will be the first time since 2006 that Tinian will have a municipal budget,” Hofschneider said.

Tinian Mayor Ramon Dela Cruz asked the delegation to include funds for retroactive payment in the local budget, lawmakers said.

Rep. Trenton Conner (R-Tinian) said there’s about $80,000 in retroactive pay that will be divided among over 100 Tinian employees. He said many will receive an equal amount of $500 each, but others will get less than that.

“I spoke to one of them and he said he only has $12 that’s still unpaid so that’s the only amount he will get,” Conner added.

There was originally some $1 million in retroactive pay owed Tinian government employees. About half of that has already been paid, while some $480,000 has yet to be paid.

Of the estimated $480,000, only $80,000 can be accommodated in the 2012 budget. Hofschneider pointed out that the retroactive pay is a central government obligation but the Tinian delegation has been looking for ways to pay for it.

“If it were up to me and if we have enough funds, I would like to pay all the retroactive pay that employees are entitled to. Many of these employees already passed away before getting their retro pay,” he added.

The Tinian municipal budget comes from revenues generated from the casino industry on island, which so far has only Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

Hofschneider said the budget will fund the salaries of at least 27 individuals on Tinian, including two Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission members paid over $100,000 each inclusive of salary and benefits; 19 administrative personnel of the Commission including the legal counsel, paid also at over $100,000 annually; and inspectors, three at the Mayor’s Office and three at the Tinian Municipal Treasury.

$58,000 for Tinian scholarships

During yesterday’s session, the delegation passed Conner’s House Local Bill 17-66, which appropriates a total of $58,000 in collections from poker machines on Tinian for scholarships.

Of the total amount, $32,187 will be appropriated to the Tinian Municipal Scholarship. The remaining $25,813 was re-appropriated for the Tinian Municipal Scholarship.

Besides Hofschneider and Conner, the two other delegation members who voted “yes” to pass the bill were Sen. Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) and Sen. Henry San Nicolas (Cov-Tinian).