PSS gets $30M for CIP projects

An appropriation measure setting aside nearly $30 million in fresh funds for various infrastructure projects of the Public School System was signed into law yesterday, a week after the Legislature acted swiftly on the request of the Board of Education.

Despite objections to two key provisions, acting Gov. Jesus R. Sablan said he approved the proposal in order to expedite these critical projects for the public schools.

The funding for Public Law 11-89 came from the recent sale of the PSS bonds worth some $15.6 million, which proceeds were used to match equal amount of federal construction grants under the Capital Improvement Projects/Covenant program.

BOE earmarked a total of $29.96 million — minus investment’s commission — to several school building plans and other infrastructure development projects of the PSS on the three islands, with Saipan cornering the bulk of the money.

The Third Senatorial District, which covers Saipan and the Northern Islands, receives the highest funding level at $22.47 million, while both Rota and Tinian have allocation of $3.74 million each as provided under the seven-year CIP master plan of the Commonwealth.

Among the projects included in the appropriations are the much-delayed completion of the Marianas High School Gymnasium and the construction of the new Saipan High School. (See side bar)

Sablan, however, asked legislators to amend the bill offered by Rep. Karl T. Reyes in view of lack of funds from the source they identified to finance portion of the MHS gym project.

Finance officials had disclosed to the Tenorio administration that the $37,537 in private contributions from Nizeki International is no longer available for partial funding of the project.

In addition, the acting governor expressed concern over a provision granting expenditure authority to the secretary of Public Works, in consultation with the BOE chair and with the concurrence of the CIP administrator.

He noted that the island government, when they presented the portfolio to potential investors, had decided to give this authority to the commissioner of education.

“Please, expedite an amendment to rectify this conflict as soon as possible to avoid jeopardizing these funds,” Sablan told the Legislature.

There is no immediate reaction from Reyes or other members of the House of Representatives who changed the initial proposal during last week’s discussion on the measure to reflect Commonwealth’s regulations on expenditure of public funds.

Originally, the bill had sought to give this power to the commissioner in coordination with the CIP administrator under the Office of the Governor, but was shot down by the House.

A BOE request, the new law now signals use of the funds made available by the bond float and from the federal government, which island leaders hope will help stimulate the sluggish economy of the CNMI.

This is the third CIP appropriations passed by the Legislature this year intended to tap about $154 million in construction funds from Washington and matching amount by the CNMI.