By Emmanuel T. Erediano
emmanuel@mvariety.com
Variety News Staff
THE Legislative Bureau and the CNMI Youth Congress will implement austerity measures effective Jan. 12, 2026.
In a memorandum dated Dec. 29, 2025, Legislative Bureau Director Perry Tenorio cited the revised fiscal year 2026 budget, or Public Law 24-20, which appropriates $1.8 million for the Legislative Bureau and $25,865 for the CNMI Youth Congress. Following the enactment of the budget, he said LB management must implement a reduction in work hours to ensure fiscal sustainability.
Tenorio said the austerity measure “aims to minimize impacts on Legislative Bureau and Youth Congress staff as much as possible while striving to maintain essential services.”
Effective Jan. 12, 2026, staff of the Legislative Bureau and the Youth Congress will have their work hours reduced to 72 hours per pay period. Daily hours will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, with a one-hour lunch break.
Tenorio said the adjustment represents approximately a 10% reduction in work hours per pay period and is “a direct response to the budgetary constraints imposed by the revised budget, aligning our expenditures with available funding.”
He also noted that for overtime-eligible employees, the change in schedule will result in reduced work hours. For salaried, overtime-exempt employees, the adjustment will involve a reduction in salary, while their overtime-exempt status will remain in effect.
“Regrettably, this austerity measure will remain in effect for the entirety of fiscal year 2026 unless additional resources are identified to address the budget shortfall,” Tenorio said.
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
