OPA holds off daily $10 fine for late filers of financial statements

Public Auditor Michael Pai said the Office of the Public Auditor is holding off assessing a $10 penalty fee for every single day that certain government officials fail to file their 2011 statement of financial interest, until the Department of Finance issues to OPA a certified list of individuals required to file financial statements.

With only 276 individuals able to beat the May 31 final deadline, there may be dozens more who have yet to file their 2011 financial statements. In previous years, the number of required filers was over 300.

The deadline for filing the calendar year 2011 statement of financial interest was on May 31. After that, OPA was supposed to assess a $10 penalty fine for every single day of non-filing.

“…OPA will not be assessing the $10 penalty fee for late filing until we receive the certified list from the Secretary of Finance,” Pai told Saipan Tribune.

Finance Secretary Larrisa Larson’s office has yet to respond to media questions about the absence of a certified list of required filers for 2011.

Pai said as of May 31, a total of 276 individuals filed their 2011 statement of financial interest.

“OPA is still unable to determine the total number of individuals required to file a statement for calendar year 2011 as we have not received the certified list from the Secretary of Finance as mandated by the Government Ethics Code Act,” the public auditor said.

In lieu of a certified list from Finance, OPA sent a notice via e-mail on March 6 and April 16, 2012, advising all appointed/elected Commonwealth officials, boards, councils/task force members or directors, commissioners, executive directors, managing directors, deputy directors, and administrators to file their statement of financial interest on or before the May 1 deadline.

Some lawmakers interviewed yesterday said while they missed the initial deadline of May 1, they were able to file their financial statement soon after that date.

Rep. Fred Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) said yesterday that right around the May 1 initial deadline, there was a death in the family—his grandmother—so he missed the date, but was able to file his financial statement around May 10.

Rep. Tony Sablan (R-Saipan) said yesterday he was able to file his financial statement during the first week of May.

Pai said that OPA has not received any requests for extension for this filing year.

“OPA would like to inform all individuals who know that they are required to file a statement to please do so, as soon as possible. Free notary service is available at OPA for this purpose,” Pai added.

Unlike many other jurisdictions and countries, CNMI law does not make public financial statements. The assets and liabilities of elected officials are not readily available for public inspection. OPA can only release the documents with the consent of the filer.