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Santos: Rota should get $200K
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Posted on Nov 18 2020
Sen. Teresita A. Santos (Ind-Rota) estimates that Rota should get about $200,000 from certain revolving accounts that were established by legislation.
Santos said Monday these funds are on top of the general appropriations provided for Rota in the fiscal year 2021 Budget Act.
She noted that these revolving funds are without fiscal limitations or restricted from any reprogramming, and should be expended for their intended purposes.
Santos earlier found out that there are certain revolving accounts established by legislation that provide for the specific collection of fees that remain with the senatorial district or provided to the senatorial district. Santos said she just learned about the revolving accounts during the government’s 2021 budget public hearings.
One such account, Santos said, is the Conservation Area Management Revolving Fund. When she inquired with the Department of Finance about this, financial analyst Travis Calvo informed Santos on Monday that, according to law, the Finance secretary shall allocate the Conservation Area Management Revolving Fund at the request of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources. Calvo said Finance can only set up the fund at the request of DLNR and that Finance has not received that request.
The senator recently urged Rota Mayor Efraim M. Atalig to work with Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig to identify the accounts and funds in the accounts so that the funds can be put to use for the purposes consistent with the laws.
Santos identified the revolving accounts funds as the Marianas Visitors Authority Trust Fund, Developer Tax, Agriculture Equipment Service Revolving Fund program, Conservation Area Management Revolving Fund, Special Accounts Funds, and the CNMI Tobacco Settlement Expenditure Fund.
