THE administration is proposing a $217.96 million budget for fiscal year 2003.
Of this amount, $213.72 million is for general appropriations, a 10.5 percent increase compared to the government’s current spending level of $193.37 million.
Acting Gov. Diego T. Benavente, in his transmittal letter to the Legislature, said
the administration is also proposing the reduction by $3.5 million of the current $69 million accumulated debt of the government.
The proposed budget includes “revenue enhancement proposals,” Senior Policy Advisor Robert Schwalbach said.
However, there will be no new taxes, although at least one revenue increasing measure—the beautification tax—will be proposed.
The administration has proposed $37.95 million for the Department of Public Health. This reflects an increase of $6.95 million from the current allotment of the department.
The Public School System will get $38.88 million, an increase of $1.65 million compared to the current budget under the continuing resolution.
The Department of Public Safety’s current budget was increased by 25 percent to $13.88 million.
Benavente said their budget proposal aims to boost the tourism industry, improve the business environment and develop the CNMI’s human resources.
The budgeted amount for the Marianas Visitors Authority for FY 2003 is $7,265,256. The figure represents an increase of $1,731,510 compared to the amount allotted in the current fiscal year which is $6,048,036.
The administration said the increase is expected to be used exclusively for marketing efforts.
Acting MVA Managing Director Vicky I. Benavente said the agency will “do more” with its budget. She said MVA’s original request for the next fiscal year was $16.13 million to implement “additional marketing efforts” in China and Hong Kong.
The administration also proposed a $2,754,097 budget for the governor’s Solid Waste Management Task Force.
The amount will be used for the operations of the Marpi landfill and to continue the closure of the Puerto Rico dump.
The administration also wants to provide $4 million for the Garapan revitalization project.
A $1.6 million funding was also proposed for the Garapan watershed improvement project. The administration sees the need for the restoration of the on-shore resources of Garapan, adding that Saipan’s most polluted beach is near Dai-Ichi Hotel.
The administration has proposed $7,788,859 for the Department of Labor and Immigration.
This is $451,340 more than the amount DOLI received for FY 2002.
“These additional funds will be used to continue automation of the labor permitting and immigration system and for additional personnel and training,” Benavente said.
The Attorney General’s Office will get $3,228,707, an increase of $371,584.
The increase will ensure adequate operations, including professional services, and investigation, Benavente said.
“In addition, these funds will allow the attorney general to take aggressive action against public corruption and prostitution activities and to initiate a new Community Attorneys Program,” Benavente said.
DPS will get $13,889,992, an increase of $2,783,022.
Due to overtime payments, the actual expenditures for DPS in the current fiscal year are projected to be $16,107,257—or $5 million more than budgeted.
Benavente said the proposed budget for DPS will be for the merit increases of deserving officers.
The recommended budget for PSS is $38.882 million, which is lower than the $41 million proposed by education officials.
But the administration also proposed a Governor’s Education Initiative amounting to $6,572,341.
Of this amount, $273,000 will be for teacher tax credit; $1,074,155 for teacher salary increase; $5,000 for the teacher of the year award; and $100,000 for Northern Marianas College’s Endowment Tax Credit.
Universal kindergarten will get $187,752; the scholarship program, $4,232,434; the Healthy Students Pilot Program, $250,000; Performance Improvement Grants, $200,000; and Development Director Pilot Program, $250,000.
