$144.84M budget passes House

House of Representatives Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota) discusses a bill that he authored for Fiscal Year 2022’s government budget during a House session Tuesday afternoon. (FERDIE DE LA TORRE)

The House of Representatives unanimously passed with a few amendments Tuesday a bill that appropriates $103.38 million of the $144.84 million the CNMI expects to earn in fiscal year 2022, to fund the operations and activities of the government and its agencies and independent programs next fiscal year.

The measure, House Bill 22-74, which was authored by House Ways and Means Committee chair Rep. Donald M. Manglona (Ind-Rota), passed by a vote of 18-0; it now goes to the Senate for action. The House clerk only counted 18 lawmakers who voted “yes” as Rep. Vicente Camacho (D-Saipan) had stepped out of the chamber just as the roil was being called.

An emotional moment occurred at the start of the session when the House staff repeatedly called the late Rep. Ivan James A. Blanco’s (R-Saipan) name during the roll call. House Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) later declared that 19 lawmakers were present and one was there “in spirit.”

House Bill 22-74 identified the total budgetary resources for fiscal year 2022 at $144.85 million. A total of $45.95 million was deducted from that amount for debt service ($3,621,250 for 2007 A Refunding Bond Payment and $3,330,250 for 2007B Refunding Bond Payment) and $39 million for the Settlement Fund.

This leaves the government $98,897,301 that’s available for appropriation in fiscal year 2022. Including the $4,487,022 budget for the Department of Public Lands, the grand total revenue available for appropriation is $103,384,323.

The Judiciary is allocated $1,227,664, while the Legislature is allocated $3,384,543, and the Executive Branch, $25,282,849.

The Office of the governor is appropriated $690,100, while the Office of the Lt. Governor is $379,522.

The Department of Commerce is budgeted at $1,034,900; Department of Community and Cultural Affairs, $1,063,435; Department of Corrections, $2,793,447; Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services, $3,776,256; Department of Finance, $3,728,831; Department of Labor, $528,648; Department of Lands and Natural Resources, $609,055; Department of Public Safety, $4,938,880; Department of Public Works, $2,935,493.

Rota is appropriated $5,926,191; Tinian and Aguiguan, $6,166,576; and the Saipan Mayor, Northern Islands Mayor, and Saipan Municipal Council, $2,084,001.

A total of $965,780 is appropriated for boards and commissions, while independent programs will get $10,904,128, and other programs, $34,940,510.

A total of $205,931,511 is appropriated for autonomous agencies’ 1,816 personnel and operations.

The Commonwealth Economic Development Authority will get $1,350,630; Commonwealth Ports Authority, $15,679,280; Commonwealth Utilities Corp., $75,739,432; Office of the Public Auditor, $2,592,907; Commonwealth Healthcare Corp., $104,086,973; Commonwealth Casino Commission, $3,191,060; and Marianas Visitors Authority, $3,291,230.

The bill bars using government funds to pay for the utilities of any elected officials, including utility expenses incurred at a private or official residence.

No new or vacant position shall be filed in the Executive Branch, except for positions that are essential for the delivery of public servicers, as determined by the governor. However, should a need arise for an essential position, employees who have been furloughed shall have first priority.

For fiscal year 2022, the bill mandates all public corporations and autonomous agencies to pay the 1% Public Auditor’s Fee.

Pursuant to the CNMI Constitution, executive orders shall have legal force and effect only within the CNMI Executive Branch, which means the governor shall not, via executive order, reprogram or exercise any authority or control over the funds appropriated by the budget law unless authorized by law.

Of the funds appropriated to the Office of Planning and Development Operations, $50,000 shall be used to fund a market feasibility study on the casino gaming industry in the CNMI.

For Rota, $285,000 shall be used to purchase a tractor and related tractor accessories. The Department of Lands and Natural Resources may use any remaining funds for other necessary vehicles or equipment.

For Tinian and Aguiguan, of the funds appropriated under operations, $170,000 shall be used to purchase a tractor mower. The Department of Public Works may use any remaining funds for tractor mower accessories, fuel, lubricant and other necessary vehicles or equipment.

A new position of veterinarian is being authorized to provide professional services for the Dog Control Program and the Saipan Mayor Office’s Animal Shelter.

The Office of Personnel Management is being given $50,000 to fund desk audits: $25,000 for DPS and $25,000 for DOC.

The Commonwealth Election Commission shall hire not more than 20 personnel or temporary employees for the general or special elections.

Of the funds appropriated to the Public School System, $50,000 shall be used to fund a feasibility study in order to determine whether Hopwood Middle School should remain at its current location or move to As Perdido.

Of the funds appropriated and number of positions allocated to PSS, two additional funded NOPs shall be allocated to the Chamorro Carolinian Language Heritage Studies Program.

The Tobacco Settlement Funds in the amount of $540,000 shall be allocated as follows: $216,000 to the Division of Public Health (40%); $108,000 to PSS (20%); $67,500 to Youth Affairs Office (12.5%); $40,500 to Coalition of Private Schools (7.5%); $54,000 to Rota Mayor (10%); and $54,000 to Tinian and Aguiguan Mayor (10%).

The Compact Impact fund in the amount of $1,873,363 is allocated as follows: $250,000 to DPS, $450,000 to DOC, $100,000 to DFEMS; $102,879 to the Public Defender’s Office; $750,000 to the Northern Marianas College; and $220,384 to the Northern Marianas Technical Institute.

In accordance with U.S. Public Law 115-218, $2.1 million in Commonwealth Worker Fee Funds shall be available for the purpose of funding vocational education, apprenticeships, or other training programs for U.S. workers.

Of the $2.1 million, $500,000 shall be transferred to the Northern Marianas Technical Institute for its vocational educational curricula, apprenticeships, or other training programs; provided that $50,000 shall be reserved each for the Rota and Tinian training programs; $1.2 million shall be transferred to NMC; and $400,000 shall be transferred to the Latte Training Academy.

On the American Rescue Plan Act, absent legislative consent in the form of a House joint resolution, the governor shall make no changes to the allocation of outside-sourced funds in ARPA spending plan as set forth in Volume 4 of the governor’s annual budget submission of April 2021 and amended in July 2021.