Tinian leaders at odds on budget

If the Revised Gaming Control Act of 1989 only allows the use of funds from the industry for “local purpose,” is the leadership allowed to earmark funds to defray statewide programs?

Furthermore, are the legislative delegation and municipal council allowed to set aside $100,000 for spending sprees and does it fall under the definition of “local purpose” as per the act?

Disagreement on these two issues have delayed timely review of the local government’s budget three months into the new fiscal year. There’s also disagreement over how much money should go for individual programs for FY 2001.

Tinian Municipal Council Chairperson Juanita Mendiola disagrees with the position of the delegation to fund CNMI-wide operations and the earmarking of $100,000 each for the two offices. It is for this reason that “we would like to secure legal opinion on the definition of ‘local purpose’,” she said.

“The initiative clearly states that the local revenue shall be ‘expended by the mayor for local purposes,” said Ms. Mendiola. “Giving the delegation and the council each its own account is contrary to the intent of the initiative and the people of Tinian should be aware where their money is going,” she added.

Included in the proposed local budget are several Commonwealth-wide agencies which will receive direct funding, Ms. Mendiola said. “These matters appropriately should be addressed in the appropriations request of the municipality” under the overall budget of the CNMI. “If the intent of ‘local purpose’ is to defray local programs, it is obviously clear that funds from the gaming industry can’t be used for statewide purposes,” she said.

The council and delegation also disagree on budget figures for programs although both agreed on the amount for local scholarship of some $250,000. Otherwise, the council outscored the delegation in terms of dollar figure on local programs.

Local revenues for Tinian come from the local gaming industry projected to bring in some $7.4 million. The mayor is vested with the authority to spend it but before doing so, intended expenditure must first be itemized in a local appropriations act approved by the Tinian delegation with the concurrence of the Tinian Municipal Council.