Prison funding problem solved

Gov. Juan N. Babauta will sign today a legislative measure that seeks to appropriate part of some $3.9 million in bond interest proceeds to fund the ongoing construction of the Saipan prison facility.

This development will solve the funding problem that has beset the prison construction project, which has lagged since it began some two years ago. Some $2.5 million of the bond proceeds would go to the prison project.

Babauta’s legal counsel, Steven M. Newman, said the governor would sign House Bill 14-131 into law today, in time with the scheduled signing of a proclamation that would declare July 18-24, 2004 as Probation and Parole Officers Week.

“We thank them [lawmakers] for the hard work they’ve done,” Newman said. “[The Commonwealth Development Authority] is ready to release the bond interest proceeds.”

The bill went through a meticulous process of redrafting at the Lower House and the Senate before finally landing on the governor’s desk for his signature.

According to the bill, expenditure authority over the $2.5 million funds would be vested upon the Secretary of Public Works.

The funds allotted for the prison project could not be reprogrammed until the facility is completed and the Finance Department accounts for the monies and reports its findings to the Legislature, according to the bill.

The prison project is being erected on a 100,000-square-foot Susupe lot adjacent to the existing Division of Corrections facility. A consent decree forged by the CNMI with the U.S. Department of Justice three years ago mandated the prison project, following findings of deplorable conditions at the present jail.

The new facility will house 344 prison cells, which is expected to ease congestion at the DOC. According to Superior Court Associate Judge David Wiseman, there were cases of convicted felons who were denied entry into the DOC for their jail terms due to overcrowding.

Besides the prison funding, $500,000 would go to each of the hemodialysis facility and collateral equipment on Tinian and Rota. The proceeds would also infuse $200,000 for each of the two islands’ road projects.

Expenditure authority over the funds would be the Secretary of Public Works for the Tinian road projects, and Tinian mayor for the island’s hemodialysis project. The resident directors of Public Works and Public Health Departments on Rota would have expenditure authority over funds allotted for the island’s road and hemodialysis projects.