Fitial said continuing appropriations are available to fund the salary of the person who will be hired to fill the post.
“The filling of this vacant position is of vital importance for the efficient delivery of essential public services,” he said.
The governor has to certify every vacant public servant position due to the freeze hiring policy and a mandate that the CNMI government fill only replacement or extremely necessary vital positions amid the islands’ worsening economic crunch.
In the absence of a passed budget this fiscal year 2009 which began on Oct. 1, the government’s spending limit remains set at $163.2 million under the continuing resolution.
