For Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26), the CNMI Finance Department requested the legislature a $15 million budget to fund its operations. But the Governor’s office proposed to fund the department with only $10 million due to the projected overall government revenue for FY26.
Among the divisions under the finance department are Tax and Revenue Collection, Customs and Biosecurity, the passport office and treasury.
In 2025, the department received an $8 million budget and funded 256 positions.
At a legislative hearing on Wednesday, Secretary of Finance Tracy Norita told lawmakers that the department needs more to retain key employees.
“Despite the budget constraints, because regardless of the funding, we still have work that needs to get done,” Norita said.
According to Norita, the department will look into federal assistance for additional funding for training and equipment.
