Gov. Arnold I. Palacios said Thursday that he does not want to raise taxes, but he and Lt. Gov. David M. Apatang don’t have a choice but propose to increase the Business Gross and Revenue Tax in his fiscal year 2024 budget plan as they are looking to raise an additional $9.1 million.
Gov. Arnold I. Palacios has requested the Marianas Public Land Trust to consider extending a $20-million line of credit for several federally funded capital improvement/infrastructure projects in order to raise revenues.
Some $289 million worth of Capital Infrastructure Project funds are in the pipeline and the CNMI government is planning to look for and set aside at least $25 million that can be tapped to get the projects going, while the government is still working on drawing down the funds.
Saipan Mayor Ramon “RB” Camacho said that he wants to know who the expenditure authority was in the $98,137.14 that was taken from his municipal account, and insists that he wants the money back.