According to Finance, the government spends over $2.420 million for the direct wages of its employees — over $1.225 million are for civil service employees and the rest for ungraded workers.
Additionally, for each payroll, the local government pays $383,330.94 to the Retirement Fund as its contributions to the Defined Benefit Plan.
It also separately pays $28,439.81 for the new public pension program known as the Defined Contribution Plan.
Close to $34,000 is allocated every payroll for the Medicare program of public servants.
In all, the government’s total personnel-related expenses every two weeks reach $2,866,227.88, excluding overtime pay.
Acting Finance Secretary Robert Schrack said if the government mandates again austerity Fridays, or the shutdown of public offices every other Friday, more than $5 million in savings would be realized.
The proposed austerity Fridays and holidays will be observed starting the pay period of Feb. 28.
These include five unpaid holidays: Good Friday, Commonwealth Covenant Day, Memorial Day, Independence/Liberation Day and Labor Day.
There are 13 pay periods remaining in FY 2010 which ends on Sept. 30, 2010.
Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee Chairwoman Jovita M. Taimanao, Ind.-Rota, said they are closely examining the figures to ensure that the employees’ interest is considered amid these tough economic times.
The committee members asked Finance officials to meet with them again sometime next week to thoroughly analyze budget figures.
The Fitial administration proposed a $150.5 million budget for FY 2010.
Because no appropriations were passed for the current fiscal year, the government continues to operate under the continuing budget resolution of $148.5 million from FY 2009 which ended with a deficit of nearly $17 million.
