[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6502068,"mediaKeyId","5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3","parentId",5592313,"title","Commerce director seeks funding clarity as two positions shift from tobacco funds to general fund","audioSeconds",235,"startMs",5714000,"endMs",5949000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3&start=5714&end=5949","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3/thumbnail_5714000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502068/Commerce-director-seeks-funding-clarity-as-two-positions-shift-from-tobacco-funds-to-general-fund","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502068-341550a84f6eca805ffb6a2e4ee89e0c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442942&Signature=RZBOzH61YlTADFO9Vg681L607dSa4q8A9784nOmIanvDNj6Av29VKSOH79RlM7X20YNFQUNXRYDBxzVZmbtopIQtqLH1SAjEO7IkmOiFDRm1hP932MSVWdzGBv9LEdWqWEkcv7x7XG~okrLlSZDLNuRQLNrvTRkIckOsRl3CGm6PM-EpvJ2SmjNXa0qOTa3HIMDa1TEsciYqQJwi-T1yXpcbEftvDQc63w5C0QeTp1AlV0l5p1Oc1S~05l04cw41tONNY3zx84v7aMfmTpwY03SY~V~pvlZ7YSUXrmEvt-6yfy3wgEsN30SJb-qvXmKcqy0y1xbQc6UEqUqqM48PHA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-08-17T11:08:47Z","article","Susan Perez, resident director for the Department of Commerce on Tinian, told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee that her office has seven authorized FTEs but that two of those were funded from tobacco revenues in FY25. She said the House budget version moved the two tobacco‑funded positions into the general fund but left them “dollar‑funded” (unfunded) in the draft the committee reviewed.

Perez said Commerce maintains a small annual revolving account for operating expenses (approximately $8,000–$10,000 per year) and that the mayor allowed the department to use tobacco funds for essential expenses in FY25, which helped cover key costs. “I should be fine for my 2026 operating expenses as long as my revolving fund account and the tobacco funds are not reduced or suspended,” Perez said.

Committee members asked for clarification about the funding sources, rental costs for Commerce space (Perez stated about $1,300 a month), and whether the department receives proceeds from corporate‑filing fees or other central business subaccounts; Perez said those revenues go to a central account in Saipan and Commerce has not received disbursements from those corporate tax accounts. Members discussed whether tobacco fund positions could be transferred to general‑fund payroll to secure the employees’ pay; OMB and committee staff noted the House‑level presentation appears to have adjusted funding lines and asked the department to confirm payroll and revolving‑fund balances.

The committee did not take a final vote; staff told Perez they would preserve personnel lines consistent with the House submission while the committee reconciles funding sources and revolving‑fund language for final FY26 appropriation work.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250818 24th NMCL Sen FA [10:00am]","oneSentenceSummary","Department of Commerce resident director Susan Perez told senators she has seven positions (two previously funded by tobacco revenue) and warned that revolving funds and tobacco allocations must remain intact for FY26 operations.","taxTitle","Senate, Northern Mariana Legislative Sessions, Northern Mariana Islands","taxId",20282,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502073,"DLNR says federal patrol funding and local permit proceeds are not reaching Tinian as intended",494,9462000,9956000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3&start=9462&end=9956","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3/thumbnail_9462000.jpg","/articles/6502073/DLNR-says-federal-patrol-funding-and-local-permit-proceeds-are-not-reaching-Tinian-as-intended","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502073-77744f59dd793702e40d9b565833fac3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442942&Signature=mc1eZMkIz5GmsliWiTMkaDwoJxrHv2Nv9nnmkhb37QrJkuZ~JV-ppqBVQKRsH-SRt5vgWJZA4WQVTbYhsLrAnn-Pb0mv7Cxvo~iioayHBJs0ZxIvsxPoQSFJA4119M5bvz2pbLVErpGD6-k2Zw4EIHZ3qOOQNfZqU2OIG9ylm6oDIR3rk79DjUERvkDovdvyhVwWnsnobDNrElpDz6A6-mDy4-NR8BA377S8Mbzyo7AJlL-OtNfV2Tuk02nGh0knfpGTdburpek6tqEUbFHGfB2vd8E5H-BYRO64eNunUsjoZsK2-wp7qE9OCJ40bjlFllll8RhWqeJAxNZcuPYd7Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Guillermo C. Borja, resident department head for the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) on Tinian, told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee that the agency’s FY26 proposal was largely reduced to zero in the governor’s submission and asked the Legislature to restore operating funds for repairs, fuel, communications and equipment.

Borja and deputy Steve Cabrera emphasized that DLNR relies on limited revolving funds to provide services — patching equipment breakdowns, supporting farmers and ranchers, and carrying out marine and land patrols — and that recent federal support has not flowed in a way that lets Tinian run independent patrols. Borja said the department was awarded $250,000 intended to monitor military lease areas but was allowed to spend only about $100,000 locally while Saipan retained approximately $150,000 for central administration. “We do the patrols here, and we give them the report, and they submit the report to the federal government,” Borja told the committee, and he asked the committee to review whether Saipan’s handling left Tinian underfunded for local patrols.

DLNR staff also raised a separate accounting concern tied to local slaughter permits. Director Borja said local law requires proceeds from slaughter permits to be deposited into a municipal scholarship fund (Local Law 6‑5 referencing Local Law 5‑2), but finance staff told the committee the corresponding account is not present in their system and transfers appear routed to a different central account. Department and finance staff agreed to reconcile receipts, deposit histories and account codes to determine whether municipal scholarship proceeds have been credited appropriately.

Other DLNR requests included restoring modest line items cut from the governor’s proposal (example requests: $50,000 for equipment repairs; $20,000 for fuel and lubricant; $15,000 for operating supplies) and filling two vacant positions (Conservation Inspector I; Trades/Mechanic Technician I) whose announcements were reportedly in process. Borja asked the committee to help clarify grant and federal drawdown status for USDA and other programs that municipal farmers and ranchers use.

Committee members asked DLNR to provide accounting records for permit receipts and for the federal patrol grant so staff in finance can reconcile the accounts and confirm whether funds remained available for Tinian patrol operations.","The Department of Lands and Natural Resources told senators much of the $250,000 federal funding for marine patrols was managed from Saipan and the department urged clarification of how funds and permit proceeds are accounted and routed to Tinian operations.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502079,"Acting DPS director asks for 10 officers, travel budget after staffing losses and rising demand",372,7157000,7529000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3&start=7157&end=7529","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3/thumbnail_7157000.jpg","/articles/6502079/Acting-DPS-director-asks-for-10-officers-travel-budget-after-staffing-losses-and-rising-demand","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502079-f2ee631265075462cafa1387d85ddc76/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442942&Signature=KNtDS5n8XIDQycLP6me3Bd12BTtnd4GZeXIl8BskI3aA1tlC6wi0CDSDCfdRTag7rnLnZSkbOGpWcPgBdjDLmqWq4cjXw~DNe7lO1s-aaPJONUUncO46xhcS6K83I~CEsTnmcKqNTX8EIe3sVO9wYQX4oP~ltLufJpOp0S8UY9wKiSf6iATUrnzuT8DtwoZtnYrELaWIknGFBXGDBdysGJFaSO0dzERdvDCWwvAUXwCOf7jRHmAC7zQoCAQCt5ntYT07BAEuxwJU5~BRf7CY0woEEMSZrrDO2RCCY6LYqZ~Ny75p4cEJEBh-iomPNFiPJtBVMm003wzQGT1PS-V-vA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sgt. Wally Villegomez, acting director of the Tinian Department of Public Safety, told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee that the department is operating with roughly 11 officers and expects further departures that will reduce sworn staffing to nine or 10, straining patrol coverage and emergency response.

Villegomez said population growth and increased traffic tied to military activity, contractors and new residents have raised call volumes and stretched the small force. He requested funding for 10 additional full‑time equivalent positions, describing them as necessary to “bolster our patrol capacity, improve emergency response time, and ensure comprehensive coverage throughout the island.”

Villegomez described a planned recruitment pathway with the Workforce Investment Agency (WEA), which has offered to fund cadet slots, including training costs and equipment for a limited period (WEA indicated support for roughly six months to a year). The department asked the committee to allow restructuring and rank adjustments so newly trained cadets can convert to police‑officer positions without losing placement in the civil‑service structure.

The acting director also sought a dedicated travel budget for detainee escorts, court hearings and emergency response; he told senators that transporting a detainee to Saipan by air with an escort can cost roughly $10,000 a year in aggregate for such missions and that the department currently relies on the mayor’s office to cover those expenses.

Senators asked about the Governor’s FY26 proposal and the department’s requested totals; committee members pressed for an agreed fiscal impact calculation to ensure WEA‑supported cadets would not leave the department unfunded after temporary support expires. OMB staff confirmed WEA support is available as short‑term funding but that the department should provide a conversion and sustainment cost estimate so the Legislature can plan for long‑term funding during budget deliberations.

Committee members also advised the department to pursue internal promotion announcements and to coordinate with OPM where restructuring is necessary; lawmakers flagged existing executive‑branch directives that limit salary adjustments and asked the department to pursue governor exemptions where appropriate. Villegomez said he would route restructure paperwork and follow up with the committee.","Acting Director Sgt. Wally Villegomez told the Senate committee that Tinian’s Department of Public Safety is understaffed and needs funding for 10 additional officers, a travel allocation and support for an academy/cadet pipeline aided by Workforce Investment Agency funding.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502084,"Tinian DCCA warns of service gaps and pay disparities; cites communications and vehicle maintenance shortfalls",107,3550000,3657000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3&start=3550&end=3657","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3/thumbnail_3550000.jpg","/articles/6502084/Tinian-DCCA-warns-of-service-gaps-and-pay-disparities-cites-communications-and-vehicle-maintenance-shortfalls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502084-812352f3bea3f234310e6f07bf7479f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442942&Signature=cXABw0IFTlv3VIJ~yurKXyXkpkZi-zNYnl5k6tW2qpIxH1gkfcjsgEnuJ4jsDXcAGj8p~EK-rhnNjjuYppfKrEBheUv5UaaUA0NIcivGWWutg6IfVJQxoRJ2j3q-b7O3p3I2Ere-a0qflroobxZuEWyDN-V-CYYk3j6FkHHb0h1Dg-9IdnuTFWv01qggLRW6LQanZe95WjD0XcZD3KX0HQBq5SQNuOwYzcyF9vArLBwq9FwZCEFYiOrliBjtdCT1XO2yk8~kVjkHprNTzPhjTqQISC0FJ8NHAib~1r~TUQjBtutiIRywhivuWFeDaomfhDp2CwSpBgkd2sVsxLdMRg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lucia Borja, representing the Department of Community and Cultural Affairs on behalf of Director Bonnie Borja, told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee that DCCA’s programs are strained by funding shortfalls for vehicle maintenance, utilities, office supplies, and communications.

Borja listed programs DCCA administers on Tinian — Child Care Development Fund (CCDF), Division of Youth Services (DYS), Historic Preservation Office, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, nutrition assistance, and the Aging Center. She said vehicle engine servicing and communications are immediate priorities. “If our communication lines are disconnected, there will be no Internet service and at the very least, our connectivity to Munis will be disrupted,” Borja said.

Borja also described personnel pay‑increase disparities tied to funding source. She told senators federally funded employees have received multiple withing‑grade increases (WGIs) in recent years while many locally funded civil‑service employees have not, noting WGIs were suspended for 15 years and then resumed unevenly. “I personally find it demoralizing and unfair,” Borja said, adding that restoring consistent WGI treatment depends on directives and availability of general‑fund lapses.

Committee members asked how many DCCA positions are federally funded; Borja said only a few — one in CCDF, one at DYS, Title V and one at Historic Preservation — and that most locally funded employees lack the same flexibility. Senators and OMB staff discussed directive 25‑01 and 23‑02 — temporary governor directives limiting general‑fund salary adjustments — and said exemptions require gubernatorial sign‑off. OMB staff confirmed departments can submit WGI requests but the governor decides on exemptions.

Members pressed about NAP staffing; Borja said Saipan funds the recent NAP hire and that office space remains constrained on Tinian. She also asked the committee to reinstate an omitted FTE for the Historic Preservation Office after an oversight during budget compilation; committee staff agreed to correct the submission if documentation supports it.

Borja closed by asking the committee to consider DCCA’s vehicle, communications and operating needs as the Legislature finalizes FY26 appropriations.","Department of Community and Cultural Affairs officials told senators vehicle maintenance, communications and interrupted pay increases are undermining program delivery and staff morale; they said many programs rely on federal grant streams and that disparities in WGIs (withholding/graded increases) leave locally‑funded employees behind.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502089,"Tinian mayor’s office urges more operating funds, presses for developer tax on DoD projects",268,2318000,2586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3&start=2318&end=2586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5592313-5197e1d48b035bd16c5c29ca162f4ad3/thumbnail_2318000.jpg","/articles/6502089/Tinian-mayors-office-urges-more-operating-funds-presses-for-developer-tax-on-DoD-projects","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502089-6f097c699275dea2c54956b06b5643eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770442942&Signature=VaUQPYng4D0-FWzyZDgdTDZSPOHLe7yDVkkGzmE8lYNn1jn2zD9pcI8yFIxLF2ohlWRN4yN2Xzbl1Y~pcGD3ESQG5gIe4mcfW-GgPEahylnWNiG9lS8oFOs~Cc4uaHvgbsCfH7uc2Wbo7hfZFaM~zOLf7QwLhzXKoEcesT2S6mCBzXSEHSzHHSSo04MUEJ828TpD~l7czYQprLCIfDlBY8qqG0FlrotY5UfPBRFqOAsDeSa6sjqBEU4F6MdnM3UKQ2MOhKTYJQvH9zZcZXuJdL1QWVhp4XGf~BfM3u9oaPd1Xm6PyA1R5u5QijrkRIFGMHkmVLb2~PhIskoEpc7mpg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Tinian Chief of Staff Alan Perez told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee on Aug. 18 that the Tinian Mayor’s Office needs additional operational funding and expanded authority to respond to infrastructure and service demands driven by military and development activity.

Perez said the mayor’s office employs 131 full‑time staff and manages library services, a youth center, dog control, ID services, parks and tourist sites, building repairs, municipal scholarships, the slaughterhouse and municipal treasury plus emergency preparedness and grant management. “Without the support staff of the mayor’s office, Tinian’s local government would face serious operational disruption,” Perez said.

The request is part of a broader appeal for resources to mitigate what Perez described as growing infrastructure impacts tied to the Department of Defense presence. He told senators the municipality expects to “capture about 10 to 11,000,000 at the end of the fiscal year alone” from taxes related to the military build‑up but has seen little added budgetary support to address resulting wear and new demands. Perez urged the Legislature to permit assessment of the developer’s tax on DoD‑related projects, saying the municipality has repeatedly requested DPW and the Secretary of Finance to institute assessment and that the Attorney General told them “there are no legal obstacles” to doing so.

Perez also asked that the FY26 budget not suspend hotel‑occupancy allocations to municipalities. He noted that Public Law 2017 requires municipalities to receive at least $300,000 annually from hotel funds but said the FY26 law should guarantee at least $175,000 per municipality. He said Tinian received $153,000 from Dec. 23 to June 25, which he characterized as insufficient to sustain tourism promotion, annual festivals and contracts that support the local economy.

Other requests included removing suspensions on revolving funds (examples cited: e‑gaming and developer’s tax funds), granting mayors authority to reprogram 100% of lapses for emergency use, and fully funding overtime for law enforcement (Department of Public Safety) and fire/EMS to avoid operational gaps. On reprogramming authority Perez told the committee he and the mayors would use flexibility to cover shortfalls within municipal operations if granted broad reprogramming powers.

Senators pressed for clarification about how CIP/“702” allocations would be used for law enforcement overtime and whether funds were available for the current fiscal year; Perez said some CIP allocations are expected to be available and that the municipality hopes to use them for overtime and back pay if released. He also repeated the municipality’s request that the developer’s tax be assessed on federal contractors related to DoD projects so that revenues flow to mitigate infrastructure impacts.

The committee did not take formal action on the requests at the hearing. Agency staff and committee members asked for follow‑up fiscal detail and for written documentation of outstanding requests to DPW and finance so the Legislature can evaluate options during budget markup.

Perez closed by reiterating the mayor’s office role as a link between residents and higher levels of government and urging prompt legislative support and clarified authority so municipal services are not disrupted.","Tinian officials asked the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee to increase operational funding for the mayor’s office, restore hotel-occupancy allocations, allow full reprogramming of municipal lapses, and require assessment of the developer’s tax on DoD-related work to address infrastructure impacts from military build-up.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commerce director seeks funding clarity as two positions shift from tobacco funds to general fund

DLNR says federal patrol funding and local permit proceeds are not reaching Tinian as intended

Acting DPS director asks for 10 officers, travel budget after staffing losses and rising demand

Tinian DCCA warns of service gaps and pay disparities; cites communications and vehicle maintenance shortfalls

Tinian mayor’s office urges more operating funds, presses for developer tax on DoD projects