The two are at odds over a local bill that will allow the Tinian municipality to borrow up to $1 million from the Marianas Public Lands Trust to cover the 14 percent pay raise for government employees on the island.
Hofschneider, a Republican, is questioning the motives of the bill which the Covenant Party-dominated Tinian delegation passed and now awaits Gov. Benigno R. Fitial.
Fitial is the titular head of the Covenant Party.
Hofschneider said Mendiola maneuvered his way to pass the measure to “pay the [Tinian] mayor’s past debts, including the 14 percent retroactive pay raises for our deserving employees.”
Mendiola and Tinian Mayor Jose San Nicolas belong to the ruling Covenant Party.
“The reference to a requirement for a resolution listing the specific projects for which the loan proceeds may be used is a legal fiction. If MPLT approves the loan, you will simply call another unannounced meeting and put whatever the mayor wants into the resolution and pass it without public hearing…. The overriding problem with your measure is that there is no money left from the casino revenues to pay back the loan,” said Hofschneider.
In his reply, Mendiola said: “Whatever differences you and your political cronies have with the mayor and my leadership it should not be used, must not and ought not, to impede the long overdue entitlements of our more than 170 employees on Tinian who have been patiently waiting for us to address their salary adjustments.”
Mendiola said the local bill does not mandate a loan from MPLA, adding that it merely provides for a mechanism to enhance solutions for Tinian’s obligations.
“For you to question my leadership for allowing T.L.B. 16-3 to pass with a limit of one million dollars now is just inconceivable considering your vehement support of the more than $3.4 million loan previously proposed,” he added.
Mendiola told Hofschneider to acknowledge that he, too, should be blamed for the lapsed budget fund for Tinian.
“At least I have the decency to admit that we, including you, failed to appropriate the funds when they were available before the budget elapse. We, including you, failed to insert a provision in this same section to make sure that these funds are non-lapsing,” Mendiola said.
“Again, at least I have the courage to admit that we, including you, made a mistake and it was not entirely the mayor’s fault, but most importantly, it was our fault, including you. I believe that it is useless to continue to argue what may have happened….However, I will not, unlike you, reduce myself to political posturing,” he added.
