Ralph Yumul
THE fiscal year 2025 budget measure will include a proposal to suspend additional earmarked funds.
In an interview, House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ralph N. Yumul said the budget bill, which will be introduced this week, has a longer list of suspended earmarks compared to Public Law 23-9 or the FY 2024 budget.
The draft bill follows the governor’s budget proposal of $117 million, including $5.5 million in public land lease fees for the Department of Public Lands.
The still unnumbered FY 2025 budget bill would suspend the following earmarks:
1) 10% excise tax for solid waste
2) Alcohol, Beverage and Tobacco Control Enforcement Operations
3) Driver’s License Fees under Public Law 20-39 that allocates 45% for the operations and programs of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, 45% for road maintenance and for the upkeep and maintenance of road shoulders by the Department of Public Works, and 10% to the upkeep and maintenance of street lights by the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation
4) Bureau of Motor Vehicles funds
5) Vehicle Registration Fees for the BMV
6) Operator’s License Fees
7) Admiralty and Mariners Fees
8) Weapons Fees for the Department of Public Safety
9) Corporation Fee
10) Building Safety Code
11) Lottery Commission Revenue
12) 35% indirect cost reimbursement to the Office of Grant and Management
In addition, the following earmarks suspended in FY 2024 will be included in FY 2025:
1) Tobacco Control – Cigarette Tax
2) Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Overtime Revolving Fund
3) Revenue and Taxation Enforcement
4) 50% of cigarette tax for Group Health & Life Insurance
5) Cancer Fund
6) 20% hotel tax for retirement fund
7) 7% Solid Waste
8) Public School System Technical Education
9) 30% alcohol container tax for retirement fund
10) 20% alcohol container for Marianas Visitors Authority
11) 15% electronic gaming license fee for defined benefit plan
12) 60% electronic gaming for retirement fund
13) Solid Waste Management Revolving Fund
14) Foreign Workers Fee Fund
