Post by Marks - the Earth's Sun on Jul 23, 2005 0:38:53 GMT -5
Funds may not be available for proposals
By Ryan Hall, The Daily Times
Jul 19, 2005, 10:55 pm
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WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The funding source is in question for three bills on the Navajo Nation Council’s summer session agenda requesting a total of more than $2.3 million.
The pieces of legislation each call for the money to be appropriated from the Undesignated, Unreserved Fund Balance (UUFB), which, according to a letter sent from the Nation assistant controller July 15, has a balance of just $170,997.
The fund was originally set up as an emergency operating budget for the Navajo Nation. According to a provision in the Navajo Nation Code, the fund balance must be enough to operate the government for six months.
According to the letter from Martin Ashley, assistant controller, that amount is roughly $59 million.
“Should the Navajo Nation Council decide to utilize the UUFB for additional appropriations, this office cautions that the Nation is already well below the minimum balance required,” Ashley wrote.
Additionally the letter notes the UUFB was at $7.2 million prior to the April council session but approved appropriations and funds for litigation related to the Tuba City Boarding School had depleted the fund.
The three bills requesting appropriations from the fund during the summer session are: A request for two tractors for the Many Farms Chapter, totaling $146,638; a feasibility study to develop a McKinley Mine reuse plan for $125,000; and a request for $2,000,000 for the Department of Navajo Veterans Affairs for services and programs.
There was no discussion of any of the bills during Monday’s first day of council. The UUFB was mentioned several times in general terms to show the financial condition of the Nation during the president’s State of the Navajo Nation address and the following question period.
By Ryan Hall, The Daily Times
Jul 19, 2005, 10:55 pm
Email this article
Printer friendly page
WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The funding source is in question for three bills on the Navajo Nation Council’s summer session agenda requesting a total of more than $2.3 million.
The pieces of legislation each call for the money to be appropriated from the Undesignated, Unreserved Fund Balance (UUFB), which, according to a letter sent from the Nation assistant controller July 15, has a balance of just $170,997.
The fund was originally set up as an emergency operating budget for the Navajo Nation. According to a provision in the Navajo Nation Code, the fund balance must be enough to operate the government for six months.
According to the letter from Martin Ashley, assistant controller, that amount is roughly $59 million.
“Should the Navajo Nation Council decide to utilize the UUFB for additional appropriations, this office cautions that the Nation is already well below the minimum balance required,” Ashley wrote.
Additionally the letter notes the UUFB was at $7.2 million prior to the April council session but approved appropriations and funds for litigation related to the Tuba City Boarding School had depleted the fund.
The three bills requesting appropriations from the fund during the summer session are: A request for two tractors for the Many Farms Chapter, totaling $146,638; a feasibility study to develop a McKinley Mine reuse plan for $125,000; and a request for $2,000,000 for the Department of Navajo Veterans Affairs for services and programs.
There was no discussion of any of the bills during Monday’s first day of council. The UUFB was mentioned several times in general terms to show the financial condition of the Nation during the president’s State of the Navajo Nation address and the following question period.