Palacios wants over 50% reprogramming authority

Posted on Jul 26 2023

Citing insufficient funding to pay three critical expenses, including the retirees pensions of up to 25%, the Office of Management and Budget has asked the Legislature to grant reprogramming authority to Gov. Arnold I. Palacios in excess of 50%.

OMB special assistant Virginia Villagomez requested Senate president Edith E. DeLeon Guerrero (D-Saipan) and House of Representatives Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez (Ind-Saipan) last Monday to pass a joint resolution authorizing the grant of such reprogramming authority.

Aside from the 25% retirees’ pension benefits, OMB’s request also covers expenses associated with the underfunding of the Group Health and Life Insurance programs for active employees and retirees, and to support the operations and activities of the Health Network Program for patients being referred to off-island medical facilities for critical care that is not available in the CNMI.

Villagomez noted that, pursuant to the Commonwealth Code, the Legislature can authorize any reprogramming of appropriations by the governor in excess of 50% cumulative and in total.

Villagomez sent the Legislature a copy of the proposed joint resolution.

Ferdie De La Torre | Reporter

Ferdie Ponce de la Torre is a senior reporter of Saipan Tribune. He has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has covered all news beats in the CNMI. He is a recipient of the CNMI Supreme Court Justice Award. Contact him at ferdie_delatorre@Saipantribune.com

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