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CNMI lawmakers tell students budget shortfalls, tourism decline and federal shutdown are driving tough choices
Summary
Lawmakers said the FY25 appropriations act averted a shutdown but the CNMI faces new fiscal pressure for FY26: revenue misses, airline cutbacks and federal shutdown effects could force school-day reductions and service cuts unless lawmakers find offsetting funds.
Legislators from the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands told a public Q&A that the territory faces a difficult fiscal year ahead as tourism declines, airline service changes and federal funding disruptions tighten revenue.
The session’s lawmakers said the recently passed fiscal-year appropriations (Public Law 24-01) helped avert a partial government shutdown, but shortfalls projected for fiscal 2026 require a revised budget. "We're expecting $40,000,000 in quarter 1, and we only realized $15,000,000," Senate President Carl Neighbors said, describing how…
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