By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

THE Legislature, including the Legislative Bureau, overspent by $33,872 its authorized spending level of $7,333,550 in fiscal year 2006, according to a government financial report obtained by the Variety.
The Legislature spent $3 million on personnel alone, including consultants.
The executive branch and its 13 departments spent within its budget allotment — $93.945 million. Its budget expenditure in FY 2006 amounted to $93.8 million, or $89,307 less than the authorized spending limit.
Also spending at their authorized levels were Rota, $10.5 million; Tinian, $10.2 million; the Saipan Mayor’s Office, $2.5 million; the Washington Representative’s Office, $1.3 million; and other programs, $1.2 million.
The boards and commissions also managed to spend within their allowable spending level of $850,579.
The judiciary, which has asked to be spared from the across-the-board cuts instituted last year, likewise spent within its $4.1 million spending authority. It spent $3.9 million in the previous fiscal year.
Expenditures for utilities in FY 2006 for all government offices and departments — power, water, sewer — were reduced from $29 million to $17 million.
The administration has said that it will soon announce a revised revenue projection that will be less than the $193 million appropriated for FY 2007.
Press Secretary Charles P. Reyes Jr., in an earlier interview, said the central government managed to achieve a modest surplus of $10,520 in FY 2006.
“We continue to work closely with the Legislature to bring the cost of government down and we made much progress last year. And we are happy also with the many bills that were signed into law (to help address our current crisis) with support and cooperation of the Legislature,” Reyes earlier said, adding that the administration “looks forward to continue to bring the cost of the government down especially if the revenue declines further.”