The Northern Marianas Lieutenant Governor, Eloy Inos, says the government has incurred an estimated three million US dollar deficit in the first half of fiscal year 2011.
He says the deficit is a combination of revenue shortfall and overspending, with the latter mostly related to the Department of Public Health's medical referral programme.
Mr Inos says agencies must continue to live within their means to help reduce the overspending, although he says medical referral expenses have always exceeded their budget.
He says revenues, taxes and fees are just not as much as they used to be as the economy continues to weaken due to a steady drop in tourist arrivals.
