Inos, the governor’s Special Assistant for Administration Esther Fleming and two representatives from the Civil Service Commission met with the members of the House Committee on Ways and Means, and the Senate Committee on Fiscal Affairs in the Senate chamber yesterday to discuss the FY 2009 budget.
“The crux of the meeting is really how to bring down the expenditures to the identified resources so that we can have a balanced budget,” Inos said.
The administration’s priority is to cut government expenditures because they have not identified funding sources to cover the budget deficit, he added.
According to Inos, the Department of Finance has to work on a $153 million budget.
The government’s current budget amounts to $163.5 million.
Inos told lawmakers that his department will be working closely with them in “reformulating revenue figures.”
“I’m resubmitting a revised cash outlays,” he said.
Sen. Maria T. Pangelinan, D-Saipan and chairwoman of the Fiscal Affairs Committee, earlier estimated that the budget figure would “go down to $150 million” due to the earmarked revenue of the Marianas Public Land Trust and the unattained projected revenues of Public Law 16-2, which doubles the fees for firearms registration, vehicle registration, renewal of vehicle operator license, marriage license and other services.
Yesterday’s meeting also discussed a retirement package option for some government employees, and the passage of bills that will fund certain programs.
The CNMI government is the main employer of local residents.
