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$1.1M textbooks fund signed into law
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Posted on Nov 19 2005
The Public School System may now proceed with acquiring more textbooks for public schools after Gov. Juan N. Babauta signed into law House Bill 14-370, providing $1.12 million in additional funds for PSS.
In his letter of transmittal early this month to Senate President Joaquin Adriano and House Speaker Benigno R. Fitial, Babauta said the approved amount would help the CNMI education system promote quality education in all public schools.
House Bill 14-370 aimed to amend Public Law 13-24 Sections 518 (a) and 521 to provide the Public School System with additional funding to purchase textbooks by reallocating the PSS’ 1 percent Public Auditor’s fee for this express purpose.
“The administration fully supports this measure,” said Babauta.
He said his administration agrees that a shortage of textbooks in the Commonwealth has a negative effect on the performance of local students, the individual schools and the school district and that if a school is not performing, the district may be subject to scrutiny by the federal government and this may affect federal funding to the Commonwealth.
The governor said, however, that the legislation might adversely affect some of the programs and activities of the Office of the Public Auditor, the medical referral program and other critical health related services, in addition to the Commonwealth’s deficit reduction program.
“However, the appropriation of the approved funds is just a short-term solution and the Legislature must adopt a comprehensive annual budget for Fiscal Year 2006 that includes sufficient funding for PSS, including a full appropriation of the funds that are necessary to purchase textbooks for all the CNMI students,” he told lawmakers.
“The administration will work closely with PSS, the Department of Finance, and the Legislature to ensure that such funding is provided without adversely affecting other critical government programs and activities,” Babauta added.
