SNILD passes appropriations totaling $8.5M

The Saipan and Northern Islands Delegation passed last week two separate measures that appropriate a total of $8.5 million from the Exclusive Gaming Annual License Fees allotted for Saipan to infrastructure improvements at Kagman as well as addressing concerns of various government agencies.

Rep. Frank Aguon’s (R-Saipan) House Local Bill 20-46, which appropriates a little less than $2.1 million for road improvements on the Kanat Tabla project, Lalangita Road, Lalangha Avenue, Palu Lane, As Teo Road, and Puteng Drive.

During discussions, House Speaker Rafael Demapan (R-Saipan) proposed an amendment to appropriate $122,142 towards the Indigenous Affairs Office.

Rep. Angel A. Demapan’s (R-Saipan) House Local Bill 20-49, which sought to appropriate a little over $6.4 million from the Exclusive Gaming Annual License Fees allotted for Saipan to various government agencies.

The Commonwealth Utilities Corp. would be allotted $2.9 million to address both the turbo-charge retrofitting of four engines as well as the wastewater pretreatment system. The Commonwealth Healthcare Corp. was allotted $1.8 million in appropriations for the procurement of new equipment and facility improvements, while $573,290 went to CHCC’s workforce needs as well as the corporation’s charge service fees to cover the cost of services.

The Commonwealth Office of Transit Authority was appropriated $150,000 while the Saipan Mayor’s Office was allotted $460,000 for the purchase of a pay loader, a 2,000-gallon tanker, a roller compactor, and to address the outstanding maintenance equipment rental fees.

A total of $125,000 was allotted to the Division of Agriculture for the Kagman farm plots and Sabalu farmers, for tractor maintenance, and for the procurement of its attachments. Some $25,000 was allotted to the repairs of the Koblerville Youth Center, $40,000 for Karidat Social Services, and $139,000 was allotted to the SNILD.

SNILD chair Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan) told Saipan Tribune in an interview that the reason why the appropriations were separated despite coming from the same source was because it made sense strategically.

“When the communication came to the Legislature from the administration that there is $8.5 million to dispose of, part of the items to be disposed was $2 million for Kagman roads,” said Sablan.

“…[Aguon] reviewed the communication from the administration and extracted the amount for Kagman [to] create a standalone bill,” he said, adding that according to experience, it was harder to deduct from a standalone bill than a large appropriation bill condensed together and solely for Kagman.

“…it’s easier to grab [from a larger appropriation] than from an [appropriation] bill with only one intent,” he said.

With SNILD passing both appropriation measures, both H.B. 20-46 and H.L.B. 20-49 now head to Gov. Ralph DLG Torres for enactment.