He said he and the governors of the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam and American Samoa asked President Obama to allow the Interior Department to administer the funds because it was more “convenient.”
“We’re so use to getting funds from Interior and we will like to continue that process instead of working with an agency we are not familiar with,” the governor told Variety.
Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the $48.6 billion State Fiscal Stabilization Fund will be distributed among the states and territories.
Of this amount, 81.8 percent will be obligated for education, while the remaining 18.2 percent is for public safety and other government services.
The CNMI is expected to receive $43 million.
Fitial has said that he would use part of the money to cover government payroll.
But Board of Education Vice Chairman Herman Guerrero said the U.S. Department of Education should handle the funds.
In an interview, Education Commissioner Rita Sablan said the mandate of the law should be observed.
The law states that the funds will be distributed by the USDOE.
