THE Office of the Resident Representative is requesting for a fiscal year 2003 budget of $1.615 million, which is 26.5 percent higher than its current spending level.
In a letter, Washington Rep. Pedro P. Tenorio informed Gov. Juan N. Babauta that his office “has slightly exceeded the expenditure ceiling provided” to them by the Office of Budget and Management.
Tenorio told Babauta that he needed a higher budget to be able to meet the needs of the local and Washington, D.C. offices.
“As you will note, being the former occupant of this office, the current budget allowed for the resident representative is quite limited given the large expenses involved in maintaining two offices, one in the District of Columbia and the other in the commonwealth,” Tenorio told Babauta.
He said he agreed with Babauta’s decision not to hire independent lobbyists.
Tenorio said he “would have to be prepared to undertake and be responsible for any needed tasks that such decision would require.”
The increased allocation is “reasonable” according to Tenorio, “as it has elements of cost savings.”
“Keeping the resources for lobbying activities within my office will streamline our efforts in ensuring that all lobbying efforts are responsive to established public policies.”
On total personnel costs, Tenorio told Babauta that it was kept to less than $870,000 as he had decided to freeze the employment of three full-time employees.
The bulk of the proposed budget would be allocated to the following needs: subsistence (covering expenses for living quarters for six employees), $108,000; official representation, $150,000; and professional services, $180,000.
The expenses include those for general consulting services to draft legislative measures and general consulting services for analysis of federal legislation.
