A former governor, Tenorio, Covenant-Saipan, told reporters he does not believe that House Bill 17-215, now Public Law 17-55, is a balanced budget.
“It is not balanced, therefore it is unconstitutional,” Tenorio said citing the continuously declining tourist arrivals that support the local economy.
Tenorio said he supposed that when the administration formulated its budget submission earlier this year, it must have seen a considerable increase in visitor arrival late last year that was why Gov. Benigno R. Fitial came up with a $120 million projection for FY 2012.
But he noted that since the beginning of the year, arrivals have “gone south.”
In January, he said it was down by 3 percent. In March, 16 percent. In April, 18 percent, In May, 13 percent. In June, 17 percent. In July, 23 percent. And In August, 12 percent.
This consistently downward trend does not indicate a good revenue projection, Tenorio said.
Shortly after Fitial submitted to the Legislature his $102 million budget proposal in April, Tenorio expressed doubt it would actually be realized. His own projection was $96 million or lower.
The tsunami and nuclear disaster in Japan last March will further reduce the number of tourists traveling to the CNMI, he added.
This unfortunate event, he added, was not taken into account by lawmakers.
“There is no way we can generate the projected financial resources amounting to $102 million,” said Tenorio, the only House members who voted against the passage of H.B. 17-215.
Cut Rota, Tinian
Tenorio insisted that the House leadership should get more funding than the Senate.
Both House and the Senate will receive $138,000 each for their respective leadership accounts.
Tenorio said the 20-member House requires a larger amount because it needs to hire two more legal counsels.
He noted that Senate only has nine members.
Asked where to get the additional funding for the House leadership account, Tenorio said he wants the budget for Rota and Tinian reduced.
He noted that the Rota mayor’s office has 97 employees while Tinian has 105.
“What are those employees doing?” he asked.
Tenorio said Rota and Tinian contribute about $2 million each to the general fund but the commonwealth government allots $4 million to each of these islands.
