Monday, July 22, 2024/// DYCA PIO
Yap, FSM— The Committee of Finance of the 11th Legislature of the State of Yap held two public hearings on Yap State’s 2025 Fiscal Year Comprehensive Budget last week, July 17th, 2024, at the Legislature Chamber. The hearing was pertaining to Gov. Comm. No. 11-249 regarding FY2025 Proposed Budget for the Yap State Government for the Office of the Governor at 10AM. The Office of the Governor attendees included Speaker Nicholas Figirlaarwon, Vice Chairman of Finance Ann-Marie Laamar, Vice Chairman of Government Health and Welfare Gabriel Ramoloilug, the Floor Leader Terrence Fong, Lieutenant Governor Francis Itmai, the Office of the Governor’s Administrative Officer, a representative from the Office of the Outer Island Affairs in the Governor Office, the Chief of Budget from the Office of Planning Budget (OPB), the Legal Counsel, and the Legislative Budget Officer. Their proposed budget for the Governor's Office fiscal year 2025 was $266,064. Then the Executive Budget Review Committee, after their review and made some adjustments, the budget decreased to a recommended amount of $242,784. The discussion highlighted discrepancies in personnel salaries and travel expenses, with explanations provided by the Lieutenant Governor and Administrative Officer regarding the inclusion of minimum wage adjustments and the rationale behind travel budget cuts.
Further deliberations included questions on policy decisions affecting personnel, such as the coverage of dependents under the MiCare program, which was not factored into the Governor's Office budget. The discussion on travel expenses addressed the necessity and benefits of proposed trips, with specific inquiries about inner island trips and the rationale for including certain travel items in the budget. The meeting also touched on the utilization of supplemental budget funds for neighboring island trips, ensuring these funds remain unspent until the trips are confirmed. The hearing concluded with an acknowledgment that some policy matters, such as dependent coverage, would need to be addressed in future settings.
(For more information, please contact YSL at (691)350-2400. Thank you.)
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