Teno weighs 2000 budget

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio said yesterday that he is still weighing whether or not to sign the FY 2000 budget as he has just received the proposal passed last week by the Legislature.

Under the law, the governor has 20 days to act on the fiscal budget, and extending beyond that period will mean its automatic enactment even without his signature.

But Mr. Tenorio disclosed he is still hoping to reach a compromise with lawmakers before the deadline so that his concerns will be addressed in some of the appropriations and provisions included in the measure.

At the same time, he has instructed the different departments and agencies to attend a forthcoming series of legislative hearings on the FY 2001 budget which the House Ways and Means will be scheduling soon.

The chief executive has stressed utilities payment would be a priority of his administration following the decision by both chambers to zero out the $4 million earlier earmarked for payment to the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation.

The money has been shifted to meet the funding requirement of both Tinian and Rota municipalities which asked that their respective level be maintained at $15 million each.

Such a move will impact on the financial condition of CUC which is currently trying to collect over $11 million owed by the government in unpaid utility bills.

The Legislature passed the proposed $211 million spending package last week almost eight months into the fiscal year, cutting appropriation to several departments and agencies in order to increase share of key programs, like schools, police, public health, scholarships and medical referral.

Aside from the utilities payment, other main changes to the original proposal submitted by Mr. Tenorio to lawmakers in April 1999 were the $700,000 allotted for Washington lobbyists and closure of the Manila Liaison Office.

In addition, legislators approved restrictions against use of public funds for renovation of government offices located in private buildings; granting authority to Representative to Washington to reprogram its own budget for the transfer of its Saipan’s office; and removing expenditure authority of the finance secretary over allocation made to her subordinate in the finance department.

Most of the agencies and departments, except those critical agencies, also suffered cuts to give way to the desire by lawmakers to increase funding for scholarship and medical referral programs, which has $4.2 million and $3 million, respectively, in the new budget.

Review of next fiscal year’s budget amounting to $226 million is expected to begin soon before FY 2000 ends in September 30.