Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, who is given discretion to reprogram stimulus money, said the idea is already approved in principle and they are just awaiting confirmation from federal authorities.
“We will look into the [stimulus] funds to avert any layoffs,” said Inos during the governor’s weekly press conference.
He said they will know within the next 30 days if the stabilization grant money could be used for the CNMI government’s operation expenses like wages.
“We’re hopeful [that this would be allowed],” said the finance secretary. “The goal is not to have anybody laid off.”
Tony Muna, the executive director of the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and former director of the Office of Management and Budget, said contractual employees who will be jobless have no support system, unlike those in the U.S. who are given unemployment check assistance.
“Here we have a bare-bones situation,” said Muna, “It is about preserving people’s lives.”
The government employs more than 4,000, and a significant number of them are employed on a contractual basis.
The government currently operates under a $148 million budget — down by $15.5 million compared to the FY 2008 budget of $163.5 million.
The proposed FY 2010 budget amounts to $150.5 million, $15 million of which will come from the stimulus grants.
