Saipan delegation wants to re-prioritize funding

Saipan legislators deferred their action yesterday on the move to reprioritize the funding needs under the $5.2-million appropriation embodied in the recently signed Saipan Local Public Law 14-11.

Rep. Justo Quitugua said that he would push for scholarship program as a top priority for funding under the law.

“I want to make an amendment to make the scholarship the first priority,” said Quitugua, chairman of the House Committee on Education.

As approved, P.L. 14-11 prioritizes the funding for the CNMI Water taskforce to ensure a 24-hour potable water supply on Saipan.

The law identifies $1 million funding for the taskforce.

Last October, Gov. Juan N. Babauta approved the bill, which identifies local poker and pachinko revenues as its funding source, saying that the $1 million additional budget for the taskforce was “critical to the ultimate success (of the taskforce) and the attainment of its goal.

The remaining amount, $4.2 million, is appropriated for 10 other projects but “subject to the availability of the funds.”

These projects include the Garapan Fishing Base public market ($500,000), Precinct I road paving and survey cost ($800,000), San Antonio Elementary School walkway ($50,000), paving of Dandan kindergarten parking lot ($50,000), local scholarship account ($1.2 million), equipment rental payment ($200,000), payment for Hawaiian Rock prior year account ($72,651.27), Saipan Municipal Council operations ($80,000), Precinct III emergency road paving, drainage and survey cost—Falipe and Chalan Kiya ($1 million), and road paving projects and repairs to William S. Reyes Elementary School and related facilities in precinct II ($200,000).

Meantime, the Saipan and Northern Island Legislative Delegation Resolution 14-6, introduced by Rep. Jesus Attao, lined up the following list of priorities: $1 million for the taskforce, Garapan Fishing Base public market, Saipan Municipal Council’s operations, payment to Hawaiian Rock, Saipan Local scholarship account, Precinct III emergency road paving, Precinct 1 road paving and survey cost for San Antonio Elementary School walkway, Mayor of Saipan equipment rental payment, and Precinct II road paving and repair of WSR school and other recreational facilities.

Meantime, in his transmittal letter to the Legislature last October, the governor asked the delegation to refrain now from appropriating any more funds from Saipan Local Law 11-2 or the poker and pachinko machines, “until all prior financial obligations funded by this law are fully paid.”

SNILD resolution 14-6 is referred back to the delegation’s Ways and Means Committee, chaired by Rep. David Apatang for further review.