Authored by the committee chairman, Rep. Ramon S. Basa, House Bill 17-96 was pre-filed on Friday and reflects a grand total of $135,385,866 but only $132,565,000 will be available for appropriation.
The $2.8 million difference is the projected revenue of the Department of Public Lands which will be appropriated for DPL only.
Basa, Covenant-Saipan, said unlike the previous budget bills, H.B. 17-96 does not itemize the amount for each branch of the government.
The judicial branch will get $3.3 million for 74 full-time employees; the legislative branch, $8.5 million for 208 FTEs; and the executive branch, $57.6 million for 1,575 FTEs.
Basa said the bill identifies which amount goes to each branch and it’s up to each how to appropriate their allotments..
The budget bill sets aside $16.8 million for bond payments and other obligations.
The bill will suspend the earmarking of the nonresident worker fund fees to Northern Marianas College; the 10 percent of gaming jackpot tax to the Public School System; the 10 percent of general fund poker fees to the human resources development fund; and 50 percent of general poker fees to the Retirement Fund.
H.B. 17-96 also allows reprogramming as provided under the current law. However, appropriations for utilities “shall not be reprogrammed for any other purpose.”
FY 2011 starts on Oct. 1, 2010.
