Clarification on $2M share of Casino License Renewal fee sought

The Rota Legislative Delegation through a letter notified the Department of Finance that they want clarity and a breakdown of their $2 million share in the annual Casino License Renewal fee as provided by local mandate.

According to Public Law 20-10, the delegation is supposed to receive annually $2 million of the $15-million annual Casino License Renewal Fee. However, delegation chair Sen. Paul Manglona (Ind-Rota) noted that the delegation did not receive the $1.43 million—the final amount after reducing a previous obligation.

Manglona in his letter noted that according to former finance secretary Larissa Larson’s report on the delegation’s finances submitted to Legislative Bureau fiscal analyst Dave Demapan, the delegation had $1.43 million available for appropriation.

“On March 2, 2019, acting governor Arnold I. Palacios vetoed Rota Local Bill 21-07, D@ because of lack of funding. However, $1.43 million of the $2 million allocated to Rota in fiscal year 2019 was never appropriated and should be available for appropriation,” he wrote on the letter, addressing current Finance Secretary David Atalig.

HLB 21-07 allocates $380,000 of the $1.43 million to hemodialysis patients, inter-island medical referral stipends and room accommodation expenses, medical subsistence allowance, and a contribution to the Flame Tree Festival for 2019.

“Additionally, prior to the delegation session wherein HLB 21-07 was passed, Rep. Donald Manglona (Ind-Rota), legal counsel Joe Bermudes, David Demapan, and I met with [Department of Finance’s Ryan Camacho] to discuss the $1.43 million available funding for appropriation,” Manglona noted.

“It is quite puzzling to have HLB 21-07 vetoed as your department’s accounting records, [Camacho’s analysis], and even your own March 18, 2019 letter to the House Ways and Means Committee…state that there are funds in the amount of $1.43 million available for Rota local appropriation,” he continued.

Saipan Tribune reached out to Atalig. He noted that he would be issuing a letter responding to Manglona within the week.

According to Manglona, instead of only appropriation $380,000, the delegation recognized that the amount is closer to $700,000, only seven months later.

“This figure is only going to increase in the upcoming weeks and months,” Manglona wrote. “…To add fuel to the fire, many patients are asked to delay much needed medical treatment because of the limited availability of rooms at the Rota Guest House and the lack of funding to house these patients at a hotel,” he continued, adding that Rota patients are currently not receiving stipends on Saipan while seeking medical treatment for more than seven months since. The patients also do not receive any reimbursements relating to their return trip to Rota.