By Moneth G. Deposa
Variety News Staff

VICE Speaker Justo S. Quitugua says that for the last two fiscal years he has spent within the appropriation provided to his office.
Quitugua, D-Saipan, has granted the request of a local group for disclosure of his expenditures.
He said the $150,000 budget of his office was reduced to $99,488 after the administration implemented the 15.6 percent across the board spending cuts.
According to Quitugua, he spent $66,545 from Oct. 2006 to April 2007.
This included $34,630 for personnel including insurance, Medicare and holiday pay.
“This includes the austerity holidays,” Quitugua said in his statement to the citizens group led by Tina Sablan.
His other expenses: subscriptions, $130; $5,295, vehicle rental; $153, repairs and maintenance; $149, professional services; $577, office and operational supplies and equipment; $8,915, travel including staff travel to hearings and training; $9,854, contribution to schools and community activities; and $4,274, fuel and lubricants for official vehicle use and equipment for community workers.
He said the fuel expenses were for the cleanups and beautification activities in Precinct 4 which he represents in the House.
“(My office) is exercising the concept of a self-help community,” Quitugua said.
The lawmaker said he will not be a paid legislator as of Jan. 2007 as his salary will go to the CNMI scholarship program.
He said he receives no stipend or allowance for his work.
“To maintain the effective operation of my office, I took cost-cutting measures on the all-others account which includes supplies and equipment expenses,” he told Variety.
In fiscal year 2006, Quitugua’s office spent a total of $123,224.
His budget for FY 2006, based on P.L. 13-24, was $155,000. However, the administration only provided his office $126,668 for this fiscal year.
Among his last fiscal year’s expenses were $67,305 for five personnel; $4,588, communication and printing; $2,247, deficit reduction; $545, subscriptions; $13,535, vehicle leases for office use; $320, repairs and maintenance; $149, professional services; $6,365, fuel and lubricants; $1,850, office supplies and equipment; $10,917, travel; and $15,403, donations to various schools and community activities.
Quitugua is among the lawmakers who have volunteered to take a 10 percent reduction in their paychecks.