Briefly, substantial amount of money can be saved by the government if only they can “bite the bullet” and operate within our (the CNMI’s) means. It is a known fact that the economy of the CNMI over the past several years has been deteriorating and it is likely to continue. We used to have over 30 licenses issued to garment factories. Today, we are down to “zero.” In 1997 tourist arrivals reached in excess of 750,000. Since then arrivals have been on a downward slide and now we are struggling with 350,000 arrivals from Japan, Korea and small numbers from China and Russia.
Our government used to collect taxes and fees about in excess of $250 million not including formula grants and Covenant funds from the feds. Now resources have dropped down to $150 million, a decrease of $100 million or 40 percent over the past 12 to 15 years. Yet our government expenditures remains constant and payroll remains at $150 million plus. Please note that the present payroll equals the annual resources. This tells me that the only thing anyone working for the government can do is to punch in when they report to work in the morning, sit around for eight hours and punch out at 4:30 p.m. Nothing can be accomplished with no money for operations (other than federal CIP money and food stamps).
Our elected officials are fearful that they will lose in the next election if they make the drastic move to reduce the size of our government. We in the business community are suffering in trying to make ends meet. Similarly, the Legislature as well as the administration must face the music and downsize the size of our branches of government and work within our own means.
Let’s go to a part-time Legislature and reduce the number of lawmakers by half.
Let the Legislative Bureau do all the interim work and have the Legislature meet 60 days a year — 30 days in the first six months and 30 in the last six months of a year. No discretionary funding, thus drastically reducing the cost of operating the Legislature. Let the bureau control the money given to the Legislature.
With the closure of the garment factories, the administration can also proportionately reduce the number of employees and save substantial sums to pay the government’s debts. The entire government used to operate with $124 million. It can do it again and probably more efficiently.
Having been exposed to the inter-working of the government for three years, I know this government can operate on a $125 million budget. The truth of the matter is ,whether we like it or not, we have to operate within our means.
The business community is dishing out their hard earned dollars to support this government through payment of taxes and fees. Yet, I get the feeling that the government is looking at other ways to “gouge” businesses in the commonwealth so that they can maintain the “luxury” they are presently enjoying.
The next problem that the CNMI is facing is the rate of unemployment. This is a tough one and if we can truly justify the total manpower needs of the CNMI, maybe, just maybe, we can eventually get ourselves out of the financial mess. The people of the CNMI are “land rich but money poor.” We can whip this problem and reduce unemployment by luring investors to come to the CNMI to invest. To do that eliminate Article XII from our Constitution and let the local land owners have full say-so on their private lands. We have lost many prospective investors who want to invest in the CNMI because they can’t own land. Article XII is keeping us money-poor. There are many of us who are afraid that if we repeal Article XII, the investors will take away our land. THIS IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH. IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SELL YOUR LAND, NO ONE CAN FORCE YOU TO SELL. Article XII is beginning to disqualify persons of Northern Marianas Descent from owning lands they would inherit from their forefathers.
Once investors begin to establish in the CNMI, we will be able to create means by which our people may be employed. Federalization will enhance the availability of jobs that our own people can fill.
MY FINAL MESSAGE TO MY COLLEAGUES (retirees): let us strengthen our organization and unify and let us show our strength this coming election and elect only those who will help the retirees continue to receive our pension.
DAVID M. SABLAN
Papago, Saipan
