By Gemma Q. Casas
Variety News Staff

REPRESENTATIVE Cinta M. Kaipat has disclosed her expenditures from January through Sept. 2006 in response to a citizens group’s request.
Kaipat, Covenant-Saipan, is among four of 27 lawmakers who have so far disclosed their expenses.
The three others were Rep. Stanley T. Torres, Ind.-Saipan; Vice Speaker Justo S. Qutugua, D-Saipan; and Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan.
According to her financial statement, Kaipat’s office was entitled to receive $141,750 from Jan. 10 to Sept. 30, 2006 for her miscellaneous funds.
Each of the 27 other lawmakers were also entitled to the same.
However, their total allotments were reduced to $106,260 each due to the government’s across-the-board cut.
Kaipat reported that her office spent $102,243.87 of her allotment.
Of the amount, 42 percent went to the wages and fringe benefits of her staff totaling $43,061.
Kaipat’s office employs four staff members — chief of staff, administrative assistant/community worker, office aide/community worker, and a receptionist.
Her second single biggest expense involved public purpose community events, activities and requests — $24,523.80 or 23 percent of her allotment.
Car rental came in third at 12 percent or $12,909.50 as of end-Sept. 2006.
Kaipat’s office is leasing a Highlander and an X-Cab 4x2 pick-up for office operations.
Her office also spent $2,135.48 on fuel and lubricants; $2,016.28, office supplies; and $6,232.03, operations supply-community work and projects.
Nearly $5,000 was spent on computer systems and equipment, among other expenses.
Kaipat spent $149 on travel.
The rest of her office’s money went to office equipment, furniture, subscriptions, communications, and other related expenses.
Kaipat’s chief of staff, Daisie Camacho, said they returned $2,684.13 in unspent funds to the general fund.