By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
THE Department of Public Lands last week submitted a $5.7 million budget proposal for fiscal year 2027, projecting a “modest growth” in public land revenue attributed to the recent awarding of an exclusive 10-year temporary occupancy agreement to SAI Leisure to operate Managaha.
Of this amount, $2.7 million will be allocated for personnel and $1.9 million for “all others.” In the current fiscal year, $4.4 million in public land revenue was allocated for DPL.
In his submission, DPL Secretary Sixto Igisomar told Special Assistant for Budget and Management Vicky Villagomez that the proposal reflects the department’s continued commitment to prudent fiscal management while prioritizing the equitable, transparent, and sustainable stewardship of public lands for the benefit of Northern Marianas descendants.
Igisomar described the self-sustaining department’s revenue projection as conservative yet realistic, ensuring compliance with the mandated $1 million minimum remittance to the Marianas Public Land Trust while maintaining essential operations.
He informed the OMB chief that in FY2025, public land revenue amounted to $6.12 million, with active management of 78 long-term leases and 108 temporary occupancy agreements producing an estimated $4.9 million in recurring annual collections.
He further said the DPL’s projection for FY2027 also reflects a “continued enforcement of base and percentage rents, targeted efforts to improve payment timeliness, and pursuit of requests-for-proposals on underutilized parcels of public lands.”
DPL proposed two other budget scenarios. The second scenario keeps the total at $5.7 million but allocates $2.4 million for personnel and $2.3 million for “all others.” The third scenario proposes $5.3 million, reflecting a 10% reduction in the overall budget, with $2.4 million for personnel and $1.7 million for “all others.”
In all budget scenarios, $1 million is set aside for the Marianas Public Land Trust, along with 1% of the total budget for audit purposes.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
