Authored by Sen. Vinnie Sablan, S.B. 21-33 states that “it would be beneficial to transfer OMB to Finance so that there is a unified position on all matters pertaining to management and budget.” It is necessary to move OMB to Finance, the bill added, “due to some conflict or discrepancies between OMB and Finance.”
Currently, OMB is under the Office of the Governor and is headed by Special Assistant for Management and Budget Virginia Villagomez.
In his veto message, the governor said OMB was established “to carry out what is arguably the most critical function of the executive branch and the most principal of the governor’s duties and responsibilities:” to submit a proposed balanced budget for the following fiscal year on an annual basis.
He said OMB “plays a significant role in my ability as governor to effectively plan and implement the priorities of the executive branch.”
“These responsibilities,” he added, “do not only include formulation and execution of the budget, but extend to financial management matters, the management of human resources, the improvement and administration of governmental affairs, the implementation of consistent budgetary policies, and ensuring of efficiency throughout the government to achieve maximum effectiveness at minimal cost to taxpayers”
The governor said he “cannot emphasize enough that this abrupt and seemingly impulsive restructuring of the Office of Management and Budget, particularly during our Commonwealth’s ongoing state of significant emergency and public health emergency, will not only cause unnecessary interruptions of the administrative business of our government, but will hinder the government’s ability to swiftly address any unanticipated budgetary concerns and to implement critical modifications when and where it is appropriate during these uncertain times.”
The governor said OMB “continues to diligently monitor and update the budget,” and maintaining its stability at this time “is of the utmost importance.”
He also noted that the attorney general has said that a “close scrutiny of the impact of the proposed transfer is warranted in order to determine whether the public interest will truly be served by moving OMB to Finance.”
