HERE AT NAVAJO COUNCIL NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE MEETING IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS IN WINDOW ROCK, ARIZ., WHERE NAABI DEBATING REPORT FROM THE NAVAJO RESERVATION’S FIVE AGENCY COUNCILS ABOUT THE UNMET BUDGET NEEDS OF THE 110 CHAPTERS, OR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS.

NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE MEMBER DELEGATE LEONARD PETE
I don’t think we will meet sky rocketing needs. We need to shake Navajo Nation Division Economic Development upside down if we are going to meet needs of chapters otherwise we will be in same boat next year. I’m hearing that we’re going to have less tribal revenues for next year’s tribal government operating budget. i was reading article of 1972 that Navajo held down by poverty, disease, no economic development and we’re still like that.

NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE MEMBER DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY
i first met with chapters in March and June. And i sent memo to Speaker Pro Temp Bates and when Bates showed up in Farmington at meeting with chapters, they asked for Bates to speak to them. Yes, they should have budget but the message is we want to be heard and taken seriously. So this is the message, no matter when message/idea made, even if eleventh hour, if that idea/message is for people then it is a great idea. i hope that this message/idea is integrated into your budget process. to all saying that this was last minute idea, we made request several months ago and received no response.

NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE MEMBER DELEGATE ELMER BEGAY
for tribal employees, tribal government provides offices with heat, water, air conditioning. but back home, we have people without water, electricity and leaking roofs.

wHETHER or not its too late can be determined by council. and the Resources & Development Committee is the oversight for Navajo Division of Community Development which is where the budgets of chapters are. And RDC needs to address budget needs of chapters before budget calendar developed and approved because it will take several weeks to address budgets of 110 chapters.

VOTE ON REPORT from FIVE AGENCY COUNCIL on UNMET NEEDS BUDGETS
NAABIK’IYATI COMMITTEE VOTING AT 2:23 PM
17 in favor, 0 opposed

NAABI NOW GOING TO LEGISLATION 0232-14: PROPOSED 2015 NAVAJO NATION GOVERNMENT OPERATING BUDGET, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY BUDGET & FINANCE COMMITTEE VICE CHAIRPERSON JONATHAN NEZ