Fund slash worries Legislature

The federal government will slash funds granted to the Motor Carrier Safety Assistance Program of the Department of Public Safety in Fiscal Year 2000, a move which officials say will effectively hamper its operations on the island.

House Speaker Diego T. Benavente has appealed to the US Department of Transportation against the cut, urging federal officials to reconsider its decision owing to the “unique” geographical location of the Northern Marianas.

Implemented in 1994, the program has been responsible for promoting safety of cars in the commonwealth as well as helping prevent accidents and, thus saving lives and property losses.

The CNMI has expected to receive some $356,000 for its MCSAP funds for the next fiscal year, but the island government has been informed that it will be reduced substantially. There is no information as to how much the cut will be.

At least one public safety employee out of the five personnel in the program draws its salary from the federal assistance. This staff inspects at least 2000 commercial motor vehicles per year that enters the CNMI.

In a letter to the US transportation department, Benavente said the new amount will revert to its level three years ago despite earlier assurances that it would increase by about five percent each year until FY 2003.

But federal officials maintained the reduction is being made for US territories due to low population levels, road miles, VMT and lack of special fuel consumption.

The speaker argued, however, the geographical restrictions of the Northern Marianas should be factored in the decision, citing the program is ongoing on Rota, Saipan and Tinian.

“The three main islands are separated by big body of ocean that can only be reached by air or commercial ships,” Benavente explained. “For this very reason, our program fall victim of low road mileage and low VMT.”

He also stressed the local fuel tax system, unlike that on the mainland, does not allow several tiers of taxes for each type of fuel and purpose of consumption.

“I understand that because we only have one tax system for one type of fuel sold to commercial transport in the CNMI, that again, is not acceptable component of the MCSAP,” Benavente said.

Due to these factors, the House leader urged the federal government to review its decision to reduce the grants which is badly needed by the Commonwealth during this time of economic difficulties.

“With limited financial resources, our government will not be able to supplement the lost funds,” he said. “This is very unfortunate in that the program has demonstrated its effectiveness in saving lives, property losses and many others that would have had devastating effects had it not for the MCSAP.”