“We are in a very critical financial situation. And we have to be reasonable in spending public money,” said one resident, a retiree, who declined to be identified.
He said it’s appropriate for the mayor to consider the “majority” who comprise the low-paid workers, the unemployed and those depending on government assistance like medical referral patients.
He criticized “selfish” politicians and highly paid officials who want to reinstate their 80-hour pay, referring to the members of the Tinian gaming commission.
The mayor said their decision to reinstate the 80-hour pay will mean that all local budget collection will go to the commission.
The other Tinian resident, who is also a retiree, said each of the the commissioners get some $100,000 a year in salary and benefits.
Last quarter, he added, the commission generated close to $300,000 in revenue of which $150,000 was allocated for its commissioners and its legal counsel’s salaries.
“This is a highly paid legal counsel of a commission that has no legal issues,” he said.
The resident said an employee of the commission wanted to retire, but was told by the Retirement Fund that his employer wasn’t remitting his retirement contributions.
