By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

The House of Delegates passed on third reading last Wednesday May 9 President Remengesau’s bill seeking for a supplemental budget for Fiscal Year 2007 increasing the Executive Branch budget to $33, 766,000 million as well as two new insertions for the Legislative Branch and the Palau Community Action Agency (PCAA).
House Bill No. 7-166-10,HD1 stated that this is to cover the operational and contingent expenses of the Executive Branch.
The amount of $22,049,000 would come from local revenues provided that if actual local revenue is insufficient and the rest would come from the Compact Funds.
The $33.8 million for the Executive Branch will go to the Ministry of Finance ($2,261,000), Ministry of State ($2,515,000) and Ministry of Resources and Development ($7,187,000).
The sum of $250,000 is also to be appropriated for the use of the national team athletes who will compete in the upcoming Pacific Games in Apia, Samoa.
The bill said that the entire amount should come from local revenues.
The bill also said that published volumes of the Palau National Code should be sold to recoup the costs of producing and publishing.
It would also allow President to negotiate for and enter into a revolving line of credit with a financial institution with a maximum amount of $3 million.
Sabino Anastacio introduyced a floor amendment that would provide the Legislative Branch with a sum of $280,000 for its joint staff. The amount of $30,000 will be to purchase a Xerox copier machine.
Another floor amendment, which was introduced by Mario Gulibert, is to fund the programs and services of the PCAA in the amount of $248,458. This is for the PCAA’s Apprentice Training Program with the Civic Action Team ($26,000), Child Care Service ($14,560), and Salary and Wages ($22,898).