THE Tinian and Aguiguan Legislative Delegation on Thursday last week unanimously passed House Local Bill 22-37 to appropriate a total of $502,030 in casino license fees.
The local bill was transmitted to the office of Gov. Ralph DLG Torres on Monday, and now awaits his signature.
According to the bill’s author, Rep. Patrick H. San Nicolas, the delegation should have enacted Tinian’s fiscal year 2023 budget on or before Oct. 1, 2022. However, he said they did not receive from the Tinian Municipal Council any notice pertaining to the estimated gaming revenue projection until Oct. 6, 2021.
The $500,000 was paid by Tinian Diamond Casino Hotel for the renewal of its license and the $2,030 is the casino service industry fee, also paid by the licensee.
Tinian Diamond is now operating a hotel at the Tinian harbor, but has yet to operate the casino, Variety was told.
H.L.B. 22-37 appropriates the casino license fees as follows:
• $351,000 for the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission’s commissioners and personnel for enforcement administration.
• $47,030 for the Tinian Casino Gaming Control Commission’s operations.
• $80,000 for the discretionary fund and operations of the mayor of Tinian and Aguiguan.
• $24,000 for the Tinian Municipal Scholarship Program.
The local appropriation measure includes $100,000 in supplemental appropriation “in the event that the municipal treasurer determines that the estimated local revenues collected will be increased by $100,000 or more.”
Patrick H. San Nicolas
