Teno OKs $7.4-M budget for Tinian legislative delegation

Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has approved the budget request of the Tinian legislative delegation, giving the island municipality additional $7.42 million to spend for this fiscal year.

But he expressed concerns on key provisions of the appropriation measure, particularly for retroactive pay for employees with salary increase of less than $40,000.

Instead of vetoing the local bill passed by the Tinian legislative delegation and the municipal council on Dec. 5, Mr. Tenorio urged legislators from the municipality to correct the questionable provisions.

“Every year, we are faced with the same concerns which contribute to the delay in taking action on the measure,” he said in signing Tinian Local Ordinance 8-1, adding the changes are needed “so that we are not confronted with them again next fiscal year.”

The provision on retroactive pay for employees of the Tinian municipality is unclear, according to the local chief executive who noted that there may have been a clerical error in the drafting of the legislation.

“Rather than veto this local measure because of these concerns, I urge the Joint Tinian Delegation to address the clarification in a subsequent bill,” said Mr. Tenorio.

The measure earmarked portion of the estimated $7.42 million revenues that the municipality is projected to earn from the casino operations for FY 2001, primarily from the lone licensee Tinian Dynasty Hotel and Casino.

About $4.23 million are to be used by the casino gaming control commission, the office of the municipal treasurer, the gaming promotion center, the public market and office of the mayor on Tinian.

Some $3.19 million, on the other hand, are set aside for various public programs under the mayor’s office, of which $334,500 are for purchase of equipment for the Tinian Health Center.

In addition, $250,000 are given to the scholarship fund to benefit students from Tinian and $190,000 to complement the medical referral program of the CNMI through travel and lodging expenses of patients and their families from the island.

The $7.42 million appropriation is on top of the over $16 million Tinian has been seeking under the FY 2001 budget of the CNMI government which is now the subject of bicameral conference between the House and the Senate.

Lawmakers from the municipality are hoping to get a bigger share of the Commonwealth’s total revenues to continue funding vital programs as well as to improve delivery of public services and upgrade facilities on the island.