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‘Stop appropriating poker funds’
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Posted on Nov 18 2005
Gov. Juan N. Babauta has asked the Legislature to stop appropriating from any more poker funds until all the approved projects using this funding source are completed.
Babauta made this call to the lawmakers as he approved House Bill 14-40.
Now Saipan Local Law 14-30, the measure appropriates $70,200 as matching fund on the architectural and engineering design of the 1.0MG Kanat Tabla Tank and Waterline project. It also re-appropriates $200,000 in poker license funds to finance various road projects in Precinct IV and the purchase of air conditioners for the William S. Reyes Elementary School.
“The administration supports these important projects. Accordingly, I have decided to sign this bill into law,” Babauta said in his transmittal letter to the Legislature.
“The administration reiterates, however, that the members of Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation are respectfully encouraged to refrain from appropriating any more funds from Saipan Local Law 11-2, as amended, until the projects identified in this measure and all other programs and activities funded by Saipan Local Law 11-2, are fully completed,” the governor said.
SLL 11-2 established an annual local license fee of $2,000 for each poker machine licensed.
Enacted in October last year, SLL 14-11 appropriated $5.15 million from these poker license funds various other programs and activities.
The appropriations include $1 million for the CNMI Water Task Force; $1.2 million for the Saipan local scholarship account; $1 million for Precinct III emergency road paving, drainage and survey cost; $900,000 for Precinct I road paving and survey cost, as well as the construction of a walkway at the San Antonio Elementary School and paving of the Dandan Kindergarten parking lot; and $500,000 for the construction of a Garapan Fishing Base Public Market.
