House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ramon S. Basa, Covenant-Saipan, in an interview after the meeting said many of the employees were worried about losing their jobs after receiving their 30-day notice which stated that their contracts will not be renewed if no new budget is enacted prior to Sept. 30, the last day of fiscal year 2010.
Basa said the House leadership assured the LB employees they will be retained because the FY 2011 budget bill, now pending in the Senate, will be passed before Oct 1.
LB Director Glenna SP. Reyes said she and the bureau’s employees were relieved to hear the assurance of the lawmakers .
She said they are also hoping the Senate will address their concern about the gap between what the proposed budget allocates and the amount the LB requires to keep all its 26 full time employees.
The FY 2011 budget proposes $899,764 for the LB which needs at least $1.2 million, she added.
Basa said the amount allotted for the LB in the budget bill is enough to retain its staff.
During the meeting with the LB personnel, the need for an economist, a budget analyst and a press office was also brought up.
Basa agreed that these positions are necessary.
He said they still have time to “shift” amounts within the legislative budget to accommodate the LB’s request.
Speaker Froilan C. Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, said the Legislature needs the LB.
“They wanted to know whether they are not going to be rehired or have reduced salaries. Nothing like that is going to happen. We need the LB staffers and we may even need to hire additional personnel,” he said.
Tenorio said he does not mind retaining the LB director whom he earlier wanted replaced.
Rep. Fredrick P. Deleon Guerrero, Ind.-Saipan, said it is very important for the legislative branch to have an economist.
“We were not elected to have all the knowledge of the world,” he said, adding that they need “the assistance of professionals.”
