In his letter to the presiding officers of the Legislature, Public Auditor Michael Pai said OPA recognizes the financial difficulties that the CNMI government faces in light of decreased revenue.
He said their $2.1 million submission for FY 2012 is a reduced amount compared to OPA’s FY 2011 budget which was $2.5 million.
Pai also told Speaker Eli D. Cabrera, R-Saipan, and Senate President Paul A. Manglona, Ind.-Rota, that OPA was not able to submit its budget proposal 30 days prior to the deadline because they were notified by the Office of the Management and Budget on Feb. 14.
In considering the current financial situation of the CNMI government, OPA reviewed its spending plan and reduced its expenses in non-critical functions, Pai said.
OPA’s duties and responsibilities include but are not limited to conducting audits commonwealth agencies, activities, contracts or grants; preventing fraud, waste and abuse of public funds; handling all appeals of decisions made by the director of Procurement and Supply in connection with any protest in the solicitation and award of the contract; and enforcement of the Government Ethics Code Act as well as the campaign finance disclosure provision of the CNMI Election Law.
From $1.8 million in FY 2011 OPA’s budget proposal for personnel in FY 2012 is $1.4 million. The number of positions was cut from 33 to 27.
The total cost for professional services was reduced from $478,000 in FY 2011 to $475,000 in FY 2012.
