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Lawmakers start budget deliberations
Lawmakers this week have started deliberations on the government’s fiscal year 2016 budget allocations for its various departments.
Sablan
According to Rep Antonio P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan), head of the House Committee on Ways and Means, the deliberations will hopefully end this week and will be readied for presentation to other members of the House in a session.
Sablan said right now, the committee members are looking at the personnel requirements of the various departments, as well as possible sources of budget allocations on the balance sheets.
Just like the budget hearings, some of the bigger departments will be prioritized.
House Speaker Joseph P. Deleon Guerrero (Ind-Saipan) said after the deliberations, the committee head will then file an Appropriations Act, or the “budget bill” for submission and review.
The deliberations are being held throughout this week, while a House session is expected to be scheduled next week.
Back in April, the Governor’s Office submitted a $145.8-million government budget for fiscal year 2016.
After initial review of the House Committee on Ways and Means, Sablan said the budget requests of government departments and their respective activities exceeded the $145.8-million proposed budget by $38.7 million.
Lawmakers expect that not all the departments’ “wish list” on their budgets will be granted.
