PSS wants $5 million more for its FY 2016 budget

The Public School System is requesting a budget that is $5.5 million higher than what the CNMI government has proposed for the agency.

Speaking in front of lawmakers at a budget hearing on Capital Hill yesterday, PSS officials lobbied for a budget of $42 million, which is significantly higher than the $36.5 million that the government is proposing.

PSS, as mandated by the CNMI Constitution, must be allocated 25 percent of the government’s proposed budget for the fiscal year.

Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan said the bulk of the budget increase will be used for personnel, citing several public high schools that have been using substitute teachers for some time now.

In its request, PSS wants to hire 16 new teachers.

At one point in the discussion, Rep. Antonio P. Sablan (Ind-Saipan) asked the PSS chief if there are public schools that can accommodate the new FTEs.

Dr. Sablan gave assurances that there are several public schools that will have the capacity to accommodate the new hires.

A big item in the budget request is the “deferred maintenance” project of PSS, which includes upgrading the infrastructure of several schools.

In its budget request, PSS indicated a budget of $1 million for deferred maintenance projects; the government’s proposal lists $3 million.

Lawmakers requested PSS to provide a list of these projects, in accordance with the budget allocation.

Dr. Sablan said that PSS has already identified several key infrastructure projects, including major repairs on school gutters, school bus stops, and cafeterias, among others.

Rep. Felicida Ogumoro (R-Saipan) said that PSS also needs to submit a list of its outstanding debts and other obligations.

Listed in the PSS budget is a $3.6 million allocation for utilities for fiscal year 2016.

“We have to see what other obligations that the PSS may have which can help us in making the decision on the budget,” the lawmaker said.

After the hearing, Dr. Sablan said she hopes the Legislature will be “considerate,” particularly on the need for more personnel and utilities.

More funds
Office of Management and Budget chief Vicky Villagomez, who was present at the budget hearing, said the CNMI is set to receive Compact Impact funds of about $2.3 million from the Office of Insular Affairs, although details of the budget allocation are still unclear.

This amount represents federal payments for the social services that local governments shoulder in order to accommodate immigrants from Freely Associated States like Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, and Marshall Islands.

It is not known whether the funds will go directly to PSS, although these funds are for the public school systems of all the territories.

“A big chunk of the fund will be given to the PSS probably by the end of the school year,” Villagomez said at the hearing. She did not give other details, aside from a tentative date of Oct. 15 for the fund’s release.

These Compact Impact funds are not factored in the PSS budget request.