A special session was scheduled midnight, Thursday to pass on third and final reading the Senate version of the budget.
A cut of an average 10 percent was made by the Senate in certain agencies. It also did not take into account the money it should be getting from the Compact of Free Association Trust Fund which is still under review.
Earlier Sen.Mark Rudimch, chair of the Senate committee on Ways and Means said the body will come up with a realistic version of the FY2011 budget.
He said that the House of Delegates version of the budget projected higher revenue collection which is contrary to the June 30 quarterly financial report which showed that the government has fallen short of its target collection.
From this figure, he said his committee is now comparing the two dissimilar budget proposals for FY 2011.
Sen. Surangel Whipps Jr. said he voted against the budget bill because the chairman did not hold a public hearing as earlier requested for him to do so.
The financial report showed that the government as of June 30 only collected 69 percent of its projected local revenues which could result to at least $2 million shortfall for FY2010.
The House version of the Committee on Ways and Means in its report stated that based on its analysis of financial information, local revenues can be projected at $37 million and is convinced that FY2011 is a lot better than 2010.
Rudimch however said the 3rd quarter report says otherwise compared to the “optimistic” version of the HOD.
The House of Delegates and the Senate is expected to go into a conference committee to iron out the kinks.
The budget needs to be submitted to the president by Sept. 15 as under the law , he has 15 days to review the budget.
