Guillermo C. Borja, resident department head for the Department of Lands and Natural Resources (DLNR) on Tinian, told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee that the agency’s FY26 proposal was largely reduced to zero in the governor’s submission and asked the Legislature to restore operating funds for repairs, fuel, communications and equipment.

Borja and deputy Steve Cabrera emphasized that DLNR relies on limited revolving funds to provide services — patching equipment breakdowns, supporting farmers and ranchers, and carrying out marine and land patrols — and that recent federal support has not flowed in a way that lets Tinian run independent patrols. Borja said the department was awarded $250,000 intended to monitor military lease areas but was allowed to spend only about $100,000 locally while Saipan retained approximately $150,000 for central administration. “We do the patrols here, and we give them the report, and they submit the report to the federal government,” Borja told the committee, and he asked the committee to review whether Saipan’s handling left Tinian underfunded for local patrols.

DLNR staff also raised a separate accounting concern tied to local slaughter permits. Director Borja said local law requires proceeds from slaughter permits to be deposited into a municipal scholarship fund (Local Law 6‑5 referencing Local Law 5‑2), but finance staff told the committee the corresponding account is not present in their system and transfers appear routed to a different central account. Department and finance staff agreed to reconcile receipts, deposit histories and account codes to determine whether municipal scholarship proceeds have been credited appropriately.

Other DLNR requests included restoring modest line items cut from the governor’s proposal (example requests: $50,000 for equipment repairs; $20,000 for fuel and lubricant; $15,000 for operating supplies) and filling two vacant positions (Conservation Inspector I; Trades/Mechanic Technician I) whose announcements were reportedly in process. Borja asked the committee to help clarify grant and federal drawdown status for USDA and other programs that municipal farmers and ranchers use.

Committee members asked DLNR to provide accounting records for permit receipts and for the federal patrol grant so staff in finance can reconcile the accounts and confirm whether funds remained available for Tinian patrol operations.