FROM $16 million in his initial budget submission on April 1, Gov. Ralph DLG Torres has increased to $32.6 million the amount of American Rescue Plan Act monies that will allotted in fiscal year 2023.
The governor’s revised FY 2023 submission, which he sent to Speaker Edmund S. Villagomez and Senate President Jude U. Hofschneider on July 1, also includes a total of $1.6 million for a within-grade increase for civil service employees.
There are also pay raises for certain executive branch officials as indicated in https://cnmileg.net/resources/files/Documents/REVISED%20FY%202023_VOLUME%20IV_ARPA%20FUND%20070622.pdf
The governor intends to use ARPA funds to restore 20% of the government employees’ work hours that were taken away due to the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
As for the employees’ retirement and health insurance employer contributions, they “will…be factored in the ARPA spending plan.”
Moreover, the governor allotted $400,000 in ARPA funds to the Northern Marianas Sports Association which will send local athletes to the next Pacific Mini Games and Micronesian Games.
In addition, the governor allotted $1.250 million to Northern Marianas College. Of the amount, $250,000 is committed to the college’s Proa Promise Initiative, a scholarship program that will pay for the cost of tuition and mandatory fees that are not covered by the Pell grant, federal financial aid, CNMI Scholarship, Saipan Higher Education Financial Assistance, Tinian Municipal and Rota Municipal assistance, military educational benefits, or private scholarships.
The governor also stated that utility expenses for eligible agencies will continue to be covered by ARPA funds.
Reacting to the pay raise list that has circulated in the community over the weekend, Delbert Pua, a Precinct 3 House independent candidate, posted on his FB page the following comment:
“Let’s hope that our government employees who are earning less than what is being proposed on this chart are given the chance and opportunity to be given a meaningful and well-deserved salary. It hurts me to see many government employees who are struggling to make ends meet.
“Not enough to secure their finances for their children’s future education, or even to get their children a gift on birthdays and whatnot, and now these that are under the governor’s list are living life at large while the rest are still suffering. Enough is enough! Let’s give an incentive to those with fewer earnings a chance to blossom where they can be able to breathe freely and also afford to canvas their living allowance and cost. This is ‘uncalled’ for,” he added.
The federal government has provided the CNMI with $481.8 million in ARPA funds, which have been supplementing local revenues for over a year now.
