During a recent fiscal affairs committee meeting, significant budgetary concerns were raised regarding the Department of Commerce's funding for the upcoming fiscal year. The department initially requested six full-time equivalents (FTEs), but the governor's budget proposal for FY 25 has resulted in the elimination of one position and the zero funding of another, leaving the department with only five funded employees.

Susan Perez, the resident department head, highlighted the critical nature of these changes, particularly in light of the increased activities related to the Department of Defense buildup. She emphasized the necessity of reinstating funding for the eliminated FTE to maintain essential operations. Additionally, Perez pointed out that the ABTC law enforcement officer position, which is crucial for enforcing regulations, has been allocated only $1 in the proposed budget for FY 25. This underfunding could lead to increased operational costs, as the department would need to send officers from Saipan to Tinyan for events, rather than filling the position locally.

The department's operational budget also faced challenges, with a request for $197,000 being reduced to $135,000. Among the operational costs, a significant portion is earmarked for rental expenses, totaling $15,600. The committee is urged to consider these funding requests seriously to ensure the department can effectively manage its responsibilities in the coming fiscal year.