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$3.6 million budget for Tinian approved
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Posted on Nov 24 1999
Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has approved the budget request of the Tinian municipality amounting to $3.6 million, nearly two-thirds of which have been allotted for personnel of the treasury department and the casino gaming commission.
He said he signed the local budget bill in fear that employees of the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission will not be able to receive their pay checks as what happened in the last few months.
But the governor asked lawmakers to revisit a provision in the measure passed by the Tinian legislative delegation on Nov. 11 to address his concerns regarding authority to go on continuing appropriations in the island municipality if the CNMI budget for FY 2000 is not passed in time.
Under the Casino Gaming Control Act of 1989, the TCGCC is permitted to seek alternative in the event that a local appropriation bill is not passed by the Tinian delegation for the following fiscal year.
“It is not clear whether it is appropriate to attempt to supplement or amend this existing provision which was adopted through local initiative through a local law act provision,” Mr. Tenorio said in signing the bill into Tinian Local Ordinance No. 7-4.
“I encourage the Legislature and TCGCC to review this issue during the next fiscal year to resolve any uncertainty which surrounds this question,” he added.
Tinian officials projected local revenues of $3.6 million for this fiscal year, primarily from the Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino which is the lone licensee under the casino initiative approved by residents 10 years ago.
Out of this amount, $2.08 million will go to TCGCC for personnel and operations expenses; $296,140 for the Municipal Treasury’s personnel and operations; and $227,000 for other expenses of the Office of the Tinian Mayor.
The rest of the money, or about $1.02 million, will be set aside for independent programs, including $100,000 for local scholarship fund and $30,000 for medical referral program of the island municipality.
Expenditure authority for the funds is granted to Mayor Francisco Borja, according to the new ordinance which was approved by Senators Joaquin G. Adriano and David M. Cing.
