Writing on behalf of the two other members of the council, Chairwoman Debra T. Camacho asked House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Ivan Blanco and Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee Chairman Jude Hofschneider to approve the budget that the council proposed for their remaining employee: $42,012 per annum, the current pay grade under Civil Service rule. This excludes the $3,823 in benefits provided for in fiscal year 2020 budget.
Camacho said the proposed FY 2021 budget appropriates $36,785 only for the council.
“We understand the current situation that we are all facing in the CNMI most especially in the decline of our revenue,” she added. “The council has been working with the Office of Management and Budget with regard to reducing [our] employee’s work hours due to current austerity measures, as well as having to terminate three [other] employees under exempt service contract.”
But she said the reduction of over $5,000 in the current salary of their employee would place the employee at a lower pay grade, which may put the Civil Service Commission into question since the current employee has been in the same position and pay grade for over a year.
“I am seeking your utmost consideration of our personnel budget for our only remaining employee that is classified as a Civil Service employee to reflect the current pay grade and level of 15/08 at $42,012,” Camacho said.
