Legislators press finance on revised FY2026 budget and $3.7 million in prior‑year receipts

Chairman JP Sablan and members of a joint Ways and Means and Senate Fiscal Affairs committee on Oct. 13 questioned the administration’s revised fiscal year 2026 budget submission over whether cash collected at the end of FY2025 should be counted as available for FY2026 appropriation.

Madam Secretary of Finance (identified in testimony as the secretary of finance, administration, Narita) told the committee the administration’s revised submission reflects updated fourth‑quarter collections and other adjustments that increased gross revenues available for appropriation. The package submitted to the Legislature lists two scenarios: one that assumes a secured MPLT loan and one without the loan. The administration’s Scenario 1, with the loan, reported roughly $138.4 million in net available resources and would allow restoration of paid holidays and a $37.7 million allocation for public schools, the secretary said.

Members focused on a $3.7 million amount identified in the…