The Governor of the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas has vetoed the proposed Fiscal Year 2009 budget.
Governor Benigno Fitial cited a number of concerns that had been overlooked by the Legislature.
The Saipan Tribune reports the Governor said the Legislature failed to address how the same number of employees and the same programs and operations could continue at the same level with reduced resources.
Lawmakers revised the budgetary resources from 156 to 148 million US dollars after the Finance Department reported a drop of 8.6 million dollars in projected revenues in FY 2009.
The Governor said it would result in the shutting down of the entire government because it will have no resources to pay its employees, and said it is imperative that the House and Senate pass legislation implementing austerity measures.
