[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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],{"_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",6464189,"mediaKeyId","5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19","parentId",5784251,"title","Senators request corrected budget spreadsheets after finance says staff transfers and grant shifts change FTE and subgrant calculations","audioSeconds",203,"startMs",972000,"endMs",1175000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19&start=972&end=1175","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19/thumbnail_972000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6464189/Senators-request-corrected-budget-spreadsheets-after-finance-says-staff-transfers-and-grant-shifts-change-FTE-and-subgrant-calculations","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464189-32633e5285c4b3f7a150931bb35b8ba4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775769374&Signature=AlMJFfAYy2uPS-~~SR6Ffq7OhdNqjBcT47sry9qAVHVFUgbYksFWB63zWJQErhrN3INl3xBRJqhWK2IJiBIRz~esUzVQq5~uS-jvWvRfoPPYVW6M5ovK99CVix4yZFHh9HPJCBZ9kIb-yXw7DCa~X9glj0d9E9mfWKhwPxQOJTXtZmPFlJGAXNzIPh-zKj2tm3ma2MtEk~n~gtjsL8wH0mwpeOwhPQtYW6x2BDsBtr6UeQDbv9B12RWsddmRKPQeW00ynoODC5dM3BmdxPwvciaFjuyYrANNq5-9Olf9twBalewHrhkOSVT9I5-uqeRev2E22covQVNv3VwI7mYg2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Senate - Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature","date","2025-09-16T13:45:33Z","article","Senators asked finance and department directors on Sept. 16 to provide corrected budget spreadsheets after officials reported personnel transfers and grant allocations that change projected local liabilities.

Director Cabrera told the committee that finance has already made transfers and is moving employees, in whole or in part, onto grant-funded roles. “We are transferring employees at a partial or full amount, to reduce our liability on the 26 10 I. So we're talking about a transfer about 200 k to federal grants, and that'll reduce the the liability you're talking about,” Cabrera said. He told senators that the department’s total operating cost “to run the office successfully, should cost us about 900,000.”

Senators asked for an updated spreadsheet after Cabrera said earlier submissions were being corrected and processing was ongoing. A senator emphasized the need to preserve the 20% set‑aside for subgrants and asked staff not to terminate positions that support the subgrant program. Finance confirmed it had submitted materials to OMB and will provide updated information to the legislature.

No formal actions were taken; the committee directed the department to submit corrected spreadsheets and to provide timely updates on transfers, FTE counts, and the effect on subgrant funding.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","250916 24th NMCL FA Continuation [10:00am]","oneSentenceSummary","Finance officials told the Senate they transferred some employees to federal grants and will move roughly $200,000 to federal grants to reduce local personnel liabilities; senators requested an updated spreadsheet to reflect those corrections and ensure the 20% subgrant set-aside is preserved.","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},6464192,"Committee seeks clarity on $50M EDA line-of-credit, $15M revolving advance and reimbursement mechanics",593,3908000,4501000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19&start=3908&end=4501","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19/thumbnail_3908000.jpg","/articles/6464192/Committee-seeks-clarity-on-50M-EDA-line-of-credit-15M-revolving-advance-and-reimbursement-mechanics","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464192-a50eb2e55ef9fe3f34362bbe43edd2a9/orig.mp4?Expires=1775769374&Signature=Qi8VUGJ0RVeaV3slqAP-DkSjNFa2Pq2aKFhP35YUFkZUgUNdjJyw6ACgegPssh2FxM74O8Cq7aOhEPvob458XhFAd7j1GW8O8xvUXczvYVDWWeI3LM2z-q6llamB3fBmzXx4LOGpZyrai8CTMfEmUIfU7-vKCpwdndFzBtuq-Y0BxksXhcLOYywHujjReF2-TJhVmBIW8od9QHZxKnwkOImDHabLEEX2xBTtB9sZ4PPs-Mg-8jGbXxiYvak6XubCpj2PhtmHyuyjb6xYOFsKi-TE3yrGOfpxU5pecG4LX9mYVYdWscSXZVhbSfbSqfgGll8VsE8eIo3rGToa-RnBMQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators pressed finance and project-management officials on Sept. 16 to explain the mechanics of a $50 million line of credit that supports Economic Development Administration (EDA)‑awarded projects and a $15 million revolving advance used as a bridge for drawdowns.

Senator Cruz and others described the program as supporting roughly $97 million in awarded projects and asked how a $15 million advance (or bridge) is sufficient when total project awards exceed that amount. Finance staff and project officials explained the mechanism: agencies make progress payments for work using available local funds or the advance; when EDA reimburses those progress payments, the reimbursement is remitted directly to the managing project entity (referred to in testimony as MPLT/MPLT variants) and used to replenish the revolving advance so it can fund subsequent progress payments. One finance official described the process as a revolving, in‑and‑out account where “every time there’s a drawdown of MPLT, then the funds they would receive from EDA will be used to reimburse that.”

Committee members sought confirmation that reimbursements are applied to the specific project that generated the drawdown and asked how finance ensures federal‑award compliance (documentation, eligible costs and draw schedules). Senators also asked whether interest income or other government receipts have been pledged as collateral for the line of credit and how that pledge would interact with recently passed legislation that referenced using MP(L)T interest income for certain repayments. Counsel clarified that, to the committee’s understanding, the initial public law authorizing the line of credit did not include interest income as collateral; a subsequent revised bill that might have included interest income did not pass. Senators asked finance to confirm in writing whether any interest income has been pledged outside the authorizing statute.

Officials said reimbursements typically move quickly: finance staff estimated EDA drawdown receipts are processed and remitted to the project manager within about one to three days. The committee requested written documentation of the flow of funds, the bank account used to hold reimbursements (including whether it is interest bearing), and any agreements that reserve interest income or other receipts for loan security.

No formal committee action was recorded. Senators directed staff to provide written flow diagrams, copies of agreements, and a reconciliation showing current drawdown and reimbursement balances.","Senators asked finance and other officials to explain how a $50 million line of credit and a $15 million revolving advance are being used to bridge federal EDA projects worth about $97 million, how reimbursements flow back to replenish the advance, and whether interest income pledges affect other obligations.",{"_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},6464197,"Senators press finance on utility arrears, solar interconnection and CUC reconciliation",1314,1293000,2607000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19&start=1293&end=2607","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19/thumbnail_1293000.jpg","/articles/6464197/Senators-press-finance-on-utility-arrears-solar-interconnection-and-CUC-reconciliation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464197-8597181507ae451817083de21023f121/orig.mp4?Expires=1775769374&Signature=dCYbpsFrQkZynj41DOeWd3kbT-9f9w5NVMCjk8ltncx3Z8qv8pNYFQIphCnv1f~PjXeD6wJXGgYIvu-UNbYfHwsTZs2GLQO6QTfF5dfwLrGMxsVaAC5rvjLA~j181iH95InX-LMQWyycvVsxzMwTJ4TOc7zhFdiySwSTeA3MYBnsf-x6P8eHGq~wtmFRNBE4RUP6ryjrWC-S-7~bSUmatrk-QxF6hD8Im7Fqi8gCwxka3iF16CXxo6UC80SHruZuIcIsE2DceXY88UKqRbjhqRtL4mDRB9-VYeHCwR6mvKTKZKjOCctB6zOrr8yvynaranTUCuL8CFiFmR9W-o4dWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Senators at the Sept. 16 committee hearing pressed finance officials for details about the government’s outstanding utility balances with the Commonwealth Utilities Corporation (CUC), the status of CUC’s net‑metering moratorium, and the interconnection arrangements for government solar projects.

Finance told senators the government completed a reconciliation with CUC and, excluding OPA negotiation items, reported a government-wide balance owed to CUC of $2,100,000 as of July 31, 2022. Finance later provided a further breakdown that, as of Sept. 30, 2024, the central government owed $887,000 and that fiscal‑year 2025 outstanding charges were approximately $1,200,000. A finance official said reconciliation had been completed and that the office can provide a department-by-department list of outstanding payables on request.

Senators pressed for accountability and timeliness: one senator said departments’ failure to enter invoices into Munis (the government financial system) was delaying payments and risking compliance with court-ordered undertakings related to CUC. The committee asked finance to provide a list of departments with outstanding CUC payables.

On solar and interconnection, finance staff described a recent government–CUC interconnection agreement and said the agreement allows government facilities to connect grid‑tied, non‑export systems that provide on-site generation without exporting power to the grid. A finance official said the interconnection agreement is “grid connected, non export,” and that government installs hybrid inverters so systems do not export power. The committee heard that some government solar projects are in procurement or construction phases — for example, an A&E bid for the Department of Corrections solar installation closes Sept. 29 and CHCC is on phase 3 of a planned seven‑phase solar offset program.

Committee members also asked whether residential or commercial customers remain covered by CUC’s net‑metering moratorium; finance said the moratorium on net metering remains in place, while noting that residential customers are still permitted to install behind‑the‑meter solar systems that do not export. Senators asked to invite CUC for further briefing about grid impacts and export policy.

No formal committee action was taken. Senators directed finance to provide department-level payable lists, documentation of the reconciliation with CUC, and additional written clarification on the interconnection policy and whether outstanding payables place the government in breach of any court orders.","Committee members questioned finance staff about outstanding government payables to CUC, the status of a net-metering moratorium, interconnection rules for government solar projects, and reconciliation figures the finance office provided.",{"_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},6464202,"Senate told $2.7 million IPI settlement recorded as gross revenue tax; committee seeks legal and budget guidance",5088,219000,5307000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19&start=219&end=5307","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5784251-c8c69e3e49a6b5a856fbab6cf2405e19/thumbnail_219000.jpg","/articles/6464202/Senate-told-27-million-IPI-settlement-recorded-as-gross-revenue-tax-committee-seeks-legal-and-budget-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6464202-d6d218286c0a9861ddace0bc86a96b7f/orig.mp4?Expires=1775769374&Signature=eDHRPVzsXKnuhPZReWIrv4T5uM9oYirbdVX81XMlk2GCUo8YaRtlA0cBBixhWmxSsEw3PJHxVlqwUogXDRqH~UXHeyG6oeuazJPq~Le7t8dwkyB0gTbXd~WKxkMV3duoIKWm7Omuvu4tjMZpYz4Ll4QtodQX0kjtubUrRDjPTAkP9lHPTDGOudcfY2HIOEBl7HaokvdAmhxEC~pErZZRhy7Mt7Bw4O9~FllvB3bb2GNiIbjSC4J~7k6Z-g1MhEPNL4OK~VAiBfz0LLxPBNxksi2ZmzAhRkfTMC-EM7QGZqbNYXQvFrtDdekeRgwbcBND9ni1UhXvcRKgg2XAA2Lacw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Senate’s finance committee heard on Sept. 16 that the government received $2,700,000 from an IPI settlement but has not yet published a plan for how the money will be used.

Senator (Chair) Ayot opened the discussion asking for “the most accurate information as to where that money is gonna go and how is it gonna be used,” noting public interest in allocations and reporting obligations to the legislature.

A finance official identified as Dave said, “As of yesterday, we received a 2,700,000.0 of, from that from the IPI settlement, but I don't have any information what is our plan with that, collection yet.” The official added later that in the government’s accounting system the amount is “recorded under the GRT” (gross receipts/gross revenue tax).

Senators pressed staff and counsel about the procedural consequences if the receipt is recorded in FY2025, including whether it would trigger a supplemental budget process or be available in FY2026. One senator observed that because the payment was received in FY2025, “it should be recorded in 2025, and it should trigger supplemental budget and preparation per se,” and asked staff to work with the House on timing if a supplemental is required.

Committee members also asked legal counsel whether statutory language requires that settlement or GRT receipts be applied to retiree payments. Acting finance staff (Pam) cited 4 CMC 2308 during the meeting, saying the statute’s provisions apply: “According to 4 CMC 2308, the payment for CGRT, which is the 2,700,000.0, will go for for the payment of the 25% of class members' full benefits.”

Senators asked the finance office to provide written clarifications and supporting documents showing how the settlement was recorded, whether it carries descriptive language from the court or bankruptcy proceedings about intended use, and whether the receipt will be treated as an ordinary GRT cash infusion or earmarked by statute or court order. The committee also requested disclosure of any audit or receivable records that explain whether the $2.7 million is a partial receipt of a larger judgment; one senator said there had been public references to a larger sum (about $5–6 million) but asked the finance office to confirm amounts.

Several committee members emphasized transparency and timeliness. One member asked finance to “kindly provide that information to community as soon as you can” if the material is not legally restricted. The committee also asked counsel to clarify any notification or statutory reporting required to the legislature.

No formal action or vote was recorded on the settlement at the hearing; senators directed staff to follow up with written documentation and legal guidance and to brief the committee on whether the amount will be treated as FY2025 revenue subject to supplemental appropriation processes or otherwise earmarked.","Finance officials told the Senate they received $2.7 million from an IPI court settlement that was recorded under gross receipts/gross revenue tax for FY2025. Senators asked for written guidance on how the funds will be allocated, whether they trigger supplemental budgeting and whether statutory rules directing 25% to retirees apply.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senators request corrected budget spreadsheets after finance says staff transfers and grant shifts change FTE and subgrant calculations

Committee seeks clarity on $50M EDA line-of-credit, $15M revolving advance and reimbursement mechanics

Senators press finance on utility arrears, solar interconnection and CUC reconciliation

Senate told $2.7 million IPI settlement recorded as gross revenue tax; committee seeks legal and budget guidance