“It will be a close call for our payroll. We’ve done enough to cut our expenditures,” said Inos in an interview yesterday.
The government has 26 payrolls each fiscal year.
It employed 4,989 employees in fiscal year 2006 costing over $122 million in payroll.
This year, the administration said it has reduced government workforce to about 3,116 as many contractual employees were not renewed, but records indicate that government salaries remain the single biggest public expense.
Under the administration’s proposed FY 2009 budget, the government can employ as many as 4,109 who must be paid a total of $108.8 million in 12 months.
The government continues to encourage more of its employees to switch to the private sector — which pays a minimum wage rate of $4.05 an hour.
Government jobs pay much more and offer extensive benefits.
Inos said what the government needs to do is to help boost the CNMI’s image among its target markets, particularly in Japan and South Korea.
“We need to get back on track,” he said.
Northwest Airlines is launching its additional daily flights starting this month.
Inos said this is good news for the tourism industry but more must be done.
“Even with those additional flights, (the Marianas Visitors Authority) is still required to spend money for advertising. The Legislature should work with MVA on this issue,” he said.
“We believe that every dollar we spend in promoting our destination is money well spent. If you get 100 percent return for your dollar that’s a good proposition,” he added.
