The chairman of the Tinian legislative delegation said there are many other important programs that need to be prioritized in the budget they’re drafting for the island.
Mendiola, Covenant-Tinian, described the council’s passage of the CUC Assistance Ordinance of 2008 as a “good gesture.”
“I commend the council for proposing subsidy for utilities for our people on Tinian…but that ordinance still has to go through the budget process and we still need to identify if there will be extra funding that we can allocated for that purpose,” Mendiola told Variety.
He said the programs need to be maintained and prioritized include the scholarship program, medical referrals and the payroll of employees of the gaming commission and the municipality.
“We also need to fund the other shortfalls of the CNMI central government,” he added.
Tinian is projecting a lower budget for FY 2009, as a result of declining revenue collections.
“We will be very conservative next fiscal year because we’re not expecting an increase in revenues,” Mendiola said.
Tinian’s current budget is $3.9 million but may collect only $3.2 in FY 2009.
Mendiola noted that the power subsidy program created by the municipal council ordinance does not set a minimum requirement for its beneficiaries.
“We need to find a funding source and determine how much we can provide for that program,” he said.
Tinian’s leaders want to pass a budget before the month ends.
