Budget and Finance Office

Bu d g et an d Fi n an c e Of f i c e

In 2021, the Budget and Finance office (BFO) transitioned physically and digitally. In 2021, there were multiple budget proposals, the termination of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act funding, completion of HVAC project, and the Guma' Hustisia homecoming, the transition to Munis and the introduction of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Even with everything that came along with the moving and changes in 2021, the office was able to keep all its services operating, both to the Judiciary and to the public.

B U D G E T P R O P O S A L

The CNMI Judiciary submitted its FY 2022 budget proposal on March 5, 2021. Our total request was for $11,832,100 This includes $7,678,277 in personnel, $3,438,824 in all others (general), $715,000 for all others-utilities. The request also requested for 140 Full time employees (FTEs) On April 1, 2021, Governor Ralph DLG. Torres submitted the Executive Branch?s proposal for all entities for FY 2022. For the Judiciary, he proposed a total budget of $4,773,003. This included $4,078,292 in personnel, $484,711 in all others (general), $210,00 for all others-utilities. The Governor?s proposal was budgeted to fund staff at 80% of their salaries. On July 1, 2021, Governor Ralph DLG. Torres submitted an amended Executive Branch proposal for all entities for FY 2022 which amended the proposed spending plan for the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to supplement the FY 2022 budget. The Judiciary will receive $2,107,135 in ARPA funds in FY 2022, increasing the proposed total budget to $6,880,138. This includes $979,096 to Personnel, increasing Personnel to $5,057,388; $878,039 to All Others, increasing All Others to $1,362,750; and $250,000 to utilities, increasing utilities to $460,000.

The CNMI Judiciary submitted its amended FY 2022 budget proposal on July 20, 2021,to incorporate the Mental Health Court Docket Budget. Our total request was for $12,851,685. This included $8,518,467 in personnel, $433,218 in all others (general), $715,000 for all others-utilities. On September 2021, the Governor signed PL 22-08 into law. The Public Law is an act to make appropriations for FY 2022. The Bill appropriated $5,939,857. This included $4,496,149 in personnel, $1,233,708 in all others (general), $210,000 for all others-utilities. The appropriation increased our FTE count to 127, but only 98 FTEs were funded and 90 FTEs were only funded at 80% of their total salary.

Bar Graph 3: FY 2021 Budget Process

In 2021, the Collected $1,844,035 at its cashier station on Saipan.

Line Chart 1: 2020 vs. 2021 Collect ions - Saipan

Line Chart 2: 2020 vs. 2021 Collect ions - Tinian

Bar Graph 4: Fiduciary Disbursement s

The Budget and Finance Director was funded part-time under the Judiciary?s CARES Act-allotted funds. The Budget and Finance Director helped prepare and review the spending plans for CARES Act funds. In 2021, the Budget and Finance Director assisted in preparing and reviewing five spending plan revisions. The Budget and Finance Director was also in charge of certifying and reviewing invoices for payments. All payments were processed through the payables section of the BFO. The Budget and Finance Director was crucial in preparing the closing report.

Director Villagomez reviews the CARES Act Spending Plan No. 10 for submission to the Secretary of Finance's Office .

The contract for the Judiciary HVAC project was awarded to Chong?s Corporation. The BFO reviewed and certified invoices for completion and correct billing. The HVAC contract was completed in November 2021. Because of the Mold Remediation portion of the contract, the cashier station was moved to the Marianas Business Plaza in October 2020 and moved back to its original office in June 2021.

The Budget and Finance Office moves back into the Guma' Hustisia after eight months of being stationed at the Marianas Business Plaza. Pictured are SA Villacrusis and CS Mendoza setting up the team's workstation.

The executive branch made the transition of the central accounting system from JD Edwards to Tyler? Technologies' Munis system in 2021. The Judiciary was included in the transition, despite its independence from the executive branch procurement and accounting process. In order to do this, the Judiciary?s BFO and Office of Procurement went through multiple trainings from July to September. Munis went live in October 2021. Munis strengthens the accounting and procurement process by having purchase orders and invoices processed and approved online. It also switched the cashiering system to a more user-friendly system. The staff of the BFO are cross-trained in every function of Munis.

T Y L E R T E C H N O L O G I E S - M U N I S