22 Sep 2011

Back-to-back session on Friday to pass CNMI budget

6:45 am on 22 September 2011

A budget conference committee in the CNMI has been able to agree on more issues, and should file a budget bill today.

The committee reinstated over 300,000 US dollars to the Executive Branch that the Senate had cut and gave the Public School System some $30 million and Northern Marianas College $5.2 million.

The committee's chairman, Representative Ray Basa says the panel expects to have a draft fiscal year 2012 budget this morning, and a final bill that will be pre-filed today.

Ray Basa says the House and Senate could also hold a session on Saturday, if a budget bill is not ready by today or Friday.

The chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee said this year's budget talks have been a smoother process than last year.