Budget decision by Tuesday

Gov. Eloy S. Inos expects to have a decision on the Legislature’s $145-million budget bill by Tuesday next week, a day before the end of the fiscal year, said press secretary Ivan Blanco.

“He indicated Tuesday…” Blanco told Saipan Tribune yesterday.

Blanco said Inos has initial concerns about the 5-percent salary raises for law enforcement personnel.

“With the raises, where would the money come from? Does it make sense to raise…the salary of law enforcement officers and take away to fund their bullets or to fund their tires? Those are the concerns,” Blanco said.

That “decision” could either be signed budget approving the $145-million budget as a whole, or with line-item vetoes. Or possibly a complete veto of the budget.

The Senate and House representatives have presented a budget to Inos that directs the Marianas Visitors Authority to modify its budget programs to the tune of $2.5 million. These program cuts—from Inos-directed earmarks—will make up for the shortfall of funds left after Senate provisions move appropriated money to fund salary increases and adjustments, among other provisions.

Inos earlier called these proposed directives an “invasion” of MVA programs. On Wednesday, though, Inos told Saipan Tribune that this depends on how the lawmakers “cut” MVA earmarks.

As the budget bill “modifies” MVA programs, funds remain in the MVA account, Inos said. He noted that this was a “legal issue,” and deferred to the CNMI Attorney General’s Office.

Rep. Edmund Villagomez (Ind-Saipan), one of the two that voted “no” to the budget bill on Wednesday, maintains that the use of MVA funds are unconstitutional.

Villagomez told reporters after the vote on Wednesday that because the budget bill allocates MVA earmarks outside the general fund, the bill is “over” the $145-million ceiling set by concurrent resolution.

“There were bills that were supposed to support all [the law enforcement raises] but are still sitting, collecting dust,” he said, referring to House Bills 19-36, 19-48, and 19-60.

“It would have taken care of the law enforcement without having to mess with the constitutionality of the budget,” said Villagomez. “I feel that this budget is unconstitutional.”

The current Legislature and Inos have passed only seven laws so far.