Previous Story
House caps FY09 budget at $156.7M
|
Posted on Sep 10 2008
The House of Representatives yesterday adopted a budget resolution that would cap government spending at $156.7 million for the 2009 fiscal year.
The House-approved resolution reflects the administration’s estimate of available resources for the period between Oct. 1, 2008, and Sept. 30, 2009.
According to the resolution, the CNMI government expects to collect nearly $170 million in FY2009. But $12.85 million has been either earmarked for different programs or appropriated for debt service, leaving $156.7 million available for government operations.
This figure does not include $3 million for the Department of Public Lands, which generates its own revenue from the use of public land.
The budget resolution now goes to the Senate for concurrence. Once approved by both houses, it will serve as a guideline for drafting the appropriation bill. The House Ways and Means Committee, according to chair Victor Hocog, is now working on the bill and hopes to have it ready for introduction on the House floor next week.
In related news, Sen. Maria Frica T. Pangelinan yesterday said she opposes a plan to give a lump sum allocation, as opposed to an itemized budget, to the Executive Branch.
Hocog has said his committee is considering this option in drafting the budget bill.
“I don’t think a lump sum budget is a very responsible way to do business, ignoring the checks and balances built into a government system with three branches. The House is trying to avoid real work and make the governor responsible for cuts,” said Pangelinan, who is the chairwoman of the Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs.
She said that passing a balanced budget is the most important responsibility of the Legislature.
“Budget sets goals and accounts for how our constituents are being served,” she said. “The appropriation bill is useless without a detailed balanced budget. How can we decide on cost cutting measures if we do not account for the funds that are available, and agree on how such funds will be spent? Do we really want to give such blanket responsibility to the governor? Cost cutting measures are factored in balancing the budget. Not after the budget is balanced and passed.”
