The Commonwealth Development Authority, the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Commonwealth Utilities Corp., the Northern Marianas Housing Corp., the Retirement Fund and the Office of the Public Auditor have a total of 633 full-time-employees who will be paid $23.655 million in one year.
The figure suggests that on the average their FTEs are paid $37,639 annually — up by about $8,500 than what the CNMI central government pays its 4,017 FTEs.
Under the revised House Bill 16-169, or the Appropriations and Budget Authority Act of FY 2009, the CNMI government can only spend up to $156.7 million from Oct. 1, 2008, the start of FY 2009, through Sept. 30, 2009.
Of the amount, about $117 million is allocated for the salaries of 4,017 FTEs.
The Department of Public Lands, which is considered a semi-autonomous government agency, is separately budgeted for $3 million — $1.9 million of which will go to the salaries of its 62 FTEs.
CUC has the highest budget for FY 2009 among independent government offices at $139 million.
About 92 percent of this amount will go to its operational expenses, mainly for fuel purchases.
The figure, however, does not reflect the recent sharp decline in global fuel prices.
CPA, which has 198 FTEs, has a proposed a budget of $11.234 million.
NMHC asked for a $2.224 million budget.
The Retirement Fund proposed a $4.9 million budget, excluding pension funds.
The Office of the Public Auditor, which has 30 FTEs, is asking for $2.6 million.
The Public Utilities Commission, the agency tasked to oversee all utility and telecommunications-related businesses in the CNMI, has yet to submit its FY 2009 budget proposal.
The Senate-House conference committee has recommended an over 10 percent across-the-board budget cut.
Only the Departments of Public Health, Public Safety and the Public School System will be exempted.
