OPINION | Multi-Island Integrated Destination approach to tourism will unite and strengthen the Marianas | Views mvariety.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mvariety.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
DUE to lack of revenue from Saipanâs casino, which has shut down since March 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the CNMI government is tapping the $13.6 million community disaster loan from Federal Emergency Management Agency to pay the 25% of the retirees pension this year, Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig said.
Moreover, in order for the CNMI government to continue meeting its obligation to the Settlement Fund to pay 75% of the retirees pension, we need to find additional resources or reduce our government s expenditures,â he added.
In an interview, the Finance secretary said the American Rescue Plan Act funds cannot be used for pension obligations âso we need to [use] other fundsâ because Imperial Pacific Internationalâs casino remains closed and is not paying business gross revenue tax.
OPINION | On the House s tie-breaking rule | Views mvariety.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from mvariety.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The federal law allows the CNMI government to spend the monies in two fiscal years.
In his budget submission on April 1, the governor provided the Legislature a spreadsheet of the governmentâs FY 2022 spending measure.
From local revenue, the governor identifies $98.8 million available for CNMI government appropriation, although Finance Secretary David DLG Atalig and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Donald Manglona are hoping to increase the amount to $105 million by tapping more American Rescue Plan Act funds.
The governor, for his part, said $32.4 million in ARPA funds will fund the salaries of 2,152 CNMI government personnel.
He also urged the Marianas Visitors Authority to use its share of ARPA funds in âswiftly moving forward with planning for the resumption of activities aside from promotion and marketing of the Marianas as a tourist destination, but to include or create outdoor events for our community affected by this pandemic [for] over a year now.â
ATTORNEY General Edward Manibusan said it is his legal opinion that the tie-breaking rule of the House of Representatives âcontravenesâ the CNMI Constitution.
He said due to the importance of resolving the issue, a certified question petition to the local Supreme Court âis recourse that may be explored.â
The House minority bloc sought the AGâs opinion on the tie-breaking provision of the new House rules that was invoked by the House leadership in passing House Bill 22-33 last month.
The measure, which would require legislative appropriation for the $515 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds provided to the CNMI, âpassedâ the House after Speaker Edmund Villagomez voted twice to break the 10-10 tie.