NO bonuses were given to Tinian’s resident department heads, Tinian Mayor Edwin P. Aldan said.
But a “decision was made…to reinstate their salary back to the FY2023 budget level,” he added.
In a statement on Wednesday, the mayor said “it is important to understand” that during the deliberation on the fiscal year 2024 appropriation measure, the House of Representatives reduced to $36,000 from $45,000 the salary of resident department heads on Tinian and Rota.
Of all CNMI government employees, the resident department heads on Tinian and Rota were the only ones to get a salary reduction in the FY 2024 budget.
In the Senate budget hearings, Aldan said he advocated for the restoration of the salaries of the resident department heads of Tinian and Rota. He said he emphasized the resident department heads’ vital role and their responsibilities.
He added that the pay decrease would create organizational salary inequalities because the resident department heads would, in most cases, be paid less than their deputy directors and even some of their staff.
“It is crucial to recognize that these [resident department heads] manage central government departments that significantly impact the quality of life and well-being of Tinian’s residents. Their extensive duties and invaluable contributions are crucial to the delivery of essential public service,” Aldan said.
Citing the federal Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds as his funding source, the mayor requested a “premium pay” of $5,000 each to the following Tinian resident department heads:
Milissa A. Mendiola, Finance
Mary Susan M. Peres, Commerce
Bonnie SN Borja, Community and Cultural Affairs
Joal D. Untalan, Public Works
Guillermo C. Borja, Lands and Natural Resources
Raymond T. Dela Cruz, Fire and Emergency Medical Services
Eugenio L. Villagomez, Public Safety
Jay Jess San Nicolas, Labor
View the Marianas Variety Article here:
https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/mayor-no-bonuses-given-to-tinian-department-heads/article_22ed08be-7e0b-11ee-ab5c-ab85b46fc47d.html
