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Tinian lawmakers pass $4.281M municipal budget for 2015
Casino revenues up 11 percent
Tinian lawmakers passed yesterday a $4.281-million municipal budget from projected Tinian casino industry revenue for fiscal year 2015, an 11-percent increase from fiscal 2014’s $3.841 million.
The Tinian budget bill passed by a 3-0 vote and with one absence.
It now heads to the governor for action, with Tinian lawmakers hoping there won’t be a repeat of last year’s partial municipal shutdown because of non-passage of a new budget by the Oct. 1 start of the new fiscal year.
The $4.281 million that Tinian lawmakers approved yesterday for appropriation all came from Tinian Dynasty Hotel & Casino, because it is currently the only operating casino on Tinian.
Sens. Frank Borja (Ind-Tinian), Frank Cruz (R-Tinian) and Joaquin Borja (Ind-Tinian) passed Tinian Local Bill 18-3. Rep. Trenton Conner (Ind-Tinian) was not feeling well and was absent.
Once signed into law, the bill will fund the personnel and operations of the Tinian Gaming Control Commission, Tinian Municipal Treasury, and the Office of the Mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan for fiscal 2015.
The bulk of the projected $4.281 million casino industry funds come from $3.312 million in casino tax revenues, followed by $500,000 in casino license fees, $400,000 in casino application fees, $25,250 in employee fees, $25,000 in casino service industry, and $18,750 in gaming device fees.
Of the total amount appropriated, $2.220 million-plus goes for personnel salaries, while over $2.060 million goes for non-personnel expenses.
These include the $75,000 per year salary of each of the four commissioners of the Tinian Casino and Gaming Control Commission.
Divert airfield resolution
The Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation also adopted yesterday Sen. Frank Borja’s resolution strongly supporting and recommending the placement of a U.S. Air Force divert airfield on Tinian. The session was originally set for Monday, but was rescheduled for yesterday.
By adopting the resolution, the Tinian lawmakers support the expressed position of the CNMI government, through Gov. Eloy S. Inos, as well as the people of Tinian and the Commonwealth Ports Authority, that the U.S. and the Air Force place the divert activities on Tinian “rather than Saipan.”
Two-thirds or some 7,203 hectares of Tinian lands are leased to the U.S. military. Tinian lawmakers said that the U.S. military should develop for its use and operations—including for divert activities and exercises—its leased lands on Tinian.
