“For personnel alone we’re still okay,” Tudela said, but added that he still needs manpower, and has already made a request to the Legislature.
Furloughs will not happen at his office as they have available funds for personnel, the mayor said in an interview.
Some of his personnel have resigned, retired and others have transferred to new employers but they have yet to be replaced, he said.
In 2006, the mayor said, he had 70 staff members but this was reduced to 50 this year.
Last week, the governor’s office asked departments and agencies to submit the lists of people who will be affected by government furloughs.
The administration said mayor’s office may be affected.
Tudela believes that this refers to Rota and Tinian where the mayor’s office have workers assigned to health centers, schools and other government agencies.
In his recent meeting with Gov. Benigno R. Fitial, the mayor said he was not informed about any personnel furloughs.
But he said he told the governor that his office will not be affected by furloughs.
Besides, he added, the governor will use federal stimulus grants to help fund government payroll.
Even without the stimulus grants, the mayor said, “my office will still be okay.”
The contracts of his personnel will end in September.
Most of the mayor’s workers are assigned to the community service department and the motor pool as heavy equipment operators.
Last year, 32 of these personnel asked the Legislature to help find funding for their payroll.
The Office of Management and Budget was able to identify the funding sources to pay for their salaries.
Tudela, who is serving his second term, can no longer run for re-election in November.
A long-time Democrat, he won the mayoral election in 2001 and was re-elected on the Covenant ticket in 2005.
