Toribiong in earlier interview said that since he assumed office, he has been spending less than $1 million compared to the Remengesau administration.
He said in the interview that the Remengesau government expenses have even reached as high as $1,805,010.
But according to the audited report of the government finances in 2008, the $1,805,010 is a cumulative amount that also includes money not only from local revenues but also grants and special grants obtained by Palau.
The amount also included funding for other offices listed under the Office of the President such as Council of Chiefs, Office of the Environmental Response and Coordination (OERC) and Grants Office.
The report said that the President’s Office of Remengesau was only allowed to spend $633,954 an amount appropriated by law. He said this amount is from an audited document reviewed by a private accounting firm Deloitte & Touche.
The senator said that spending more than what was appropriated by Congress is a violation of the law.
He said under the law the chief executive is authorized to seek outside money for funding needs of agencies especially if local revenues cannot finance the programs.
Grants money however can only be used for specific programs it cannot be reprogrammed to fund other agencies.
Remengesau in an interview said that Toribiong is “painting a picture that we are spending more money that he is spending.”
The senator said that the audit report speaks for itself showing that his administration has actually spent less than him.
Remengesau said Toribiong cannot distort the figures to make it appear that his government is actually spending less than his administration.
He said he cannot lump the amount together to come up with a bloated figure. In Toribiong’s request for a 2010 supplemental budget the president is requesting nearly a $1 million for his office which is an additional $200,000 from the appropriated amount.
//
