A record from the Department of Finance shows that of the $3.3 million collection of poker fees on Saipan, only $3.2 million were spent.
The SNILD which had appropriated $3.4 million for each lawmaker’s pet projects had to defer the funding of one pet project due to the shortfall in poker fees collection.
In an interview yesterday, Tebuteb said he will ask his Saipan lawmakers to sit down with respective colleagues in each precinct and set priorities in using the poker money leftover.
He noted that the list of local projects is teeming with road repairs, special community events and other activities not necessarily contributing to the enhancement of tourism on the island.
“The Finance’s record tells that SNILD cares too much about roads instead of tourism,” he said. He said they might as well “get rid of the original project and come up with another idea that will help promote Saipan’s tourism industry.
Tebuteb said the poker money still sitting idle should be zeroed out but he wants to make sure they the Saipan lawmakers know their priority, and he would rather focus on tourism.
“If the money that has not been appropriated in previous years is not moving, the question is, why?” Tebuteb asked.
The Finance’s record shows that of the $3 million appropriated by the Saipan delegation and transferred to Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance board, only more than $2.8 million was spent.
Of the $100,000 appropriated for SHEFA operations, only $31,835; of the $25,000 for Saipan Little League only $14,972 was transferred and $17,958 was spent; of the $75,000 for Saipan Zoning, only $65,174 was spent; of the $15,000 Neighborhood Task Force Program only $8,729 was transferred and spent and of the $10,000 for Saipan Fishing Derby only $5,819 was transferred and $5,000 was spent.
