Joe Mafnas, Finance’s administrative director, told the senators they lack the manpower to closely monitor poker machines.
Unlike in the past when they could go to poker arcades at midnight to remove or shut down poker machines with expired licenses, the department’s Revenue & Taxation poker enforcers can now only perform their duties within working hours.
Mafnas said although they monitor the licenses of each of all the poker machines on island, all they can do is call the operators and inform them if their licenses are already expiring.
They ask the owners over the phone whether they want to renew the licenses.
If the owners no longer want to renew the licenses, the enforcers can come to the poker arcade during government working hours to lock the machines.
“We wish we can do more,” Mafnas said as he admitted they can no longer tell how many unlicensed poker machines are still operating.
The number of machines, he added, is declining.
Mafnas said from 1,200 about five years ago, the number is down to 576 only.
Senate Vice President Jude U. Hofschneider, R-Tinian, who chairs the panel, said it appears that the lack of enforcement personnel is restricting the government’s ability to collect poker revenues.
He noted that Rev & Tax is still without director since Estrelita Ada resigned more than a year ago.
There are only three enforcers that go out to check the machines, he added.
According to Hofschneider, they are looking at ways to see if they can fund the hiring of more poker machine enforcers.
But because of the government’s limited budget for this fiscal year, he said it is important to be creative in addressing manpower issues.
It is possible, he added, that departments can help each other by cross-training their staff.
Businessman Tony Pellegrino, who participated in the discussions, said there may be departments that have too many personnel who can be transferred to other departments that need more.
There is a need to enforce rules, he added, otherwise, they mean nothing.
