Here at Navajo Nation Council chamber, where Council’s Budget & Finance Committee meeting.
The B&F just tabled a request by B&F Chairperson LoRenzo Bates and Controller Mark Grant for about $8 million for Gaming Development Fund. The legislation – 0281-13 – will return to the B&F during their meeting, which is scheduled for the first week of October 2013.
The B&F vote on the tabling of legislation 0281-13, which was sponsored by their Chairperson LoRenzo Bates, was a tie: 2 in favaor, 2 opposed. Committee Vice Chairperson Jonathan Nez broke with an opposing vote. Nez said that his opposing vote was because a close look at the $8 million budget showed that the funds were not for staff, but for construction and top management. Nez noted that in 2013 that Controller Mark Grant laid off some of his workers and that during the 2014 budget hearing, some of the Controller’s staff expressed concern about possible layoffs again.
THE FINAL VOTE ON LEGISLATION 0281-13: 2 IN FAVOR, 3 OPPOSED TO TABLE
LEGISLATION 0253-13 – APPROVING US EPA GRANT APPLICATION FOR $177,375 FROM OCT. 1, 2013, TO SEPT. 30, 2014, WITH NO CASH MATCH & WIAVING INDIRECT COST RATE. FINAL APPROVAL BY NAA’BIKI’YATI’ COMMITTEE.
SPONSOR – Delegate Alton Shepherd
NAVAJO EPA PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER LILLY LANE
work with abandoned uranim mines, 2008 five year plan up to spring 2013 and in another five year plan and unfortunately with US EPA guidelines demands capacity building and so adding job development for next year. Partnered with Northern Arizona University to provide training to pple where uranium mines and remediation.
Also working with Cameron and northeast Church Rock. 2016 clean up for uranium mine and working on long term housing. do conference calls and meet with them monthly and work closely EPA regions.
That is main work doing.
B&F MEMBER NELSON BEGAYE
Glad to see that this US EPA requires no funding match but wondering why waiving Indirect Cost.
B&F MEMBER LORENZO CURLEY
asked Office of Management & Budget Contracts & Grants director Cordell Shorty to be here so cud ask how much of nation government programs have waived IDC which is federal contract support costs.
We’re subsidizing federal govt when waive IDC. $400 M in federal contracts/grants annually and we only recovered $10 m, which is less than ten percent.
I’m reading your signature review process. You work these plans.
SPONSOR – DELEGATE ALTON SHEPHERD
There is memo from Contracts & Grants Shorty that no IDC until Navajo Nation negotiates IDC and that there’s a flat rate, 10 percent. Think lot of federal contracts/grants use ten percent and that is what asking to be waived.
this is small grant to advocate for people impacted by uranium mining. wish could apply IDC.
VOTE ON WAIVER OF IDC FOR US EPA GRANT AT 12:25 PM
3 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPPOSED
SPONSOR-DELEGATE KATHERINE BENALLY NO SHOW FOR 4 PIECES OF LEGISLATION – 0262-13, 0261-13, 0260-13, 0275-13 – AND SO B&F MOVES ONTO OTHER LEGISLATION.
SPONOR-DELEGATE ROSCOE SMITH IS NO SHOW FOR HIS LEGISLATION, 0253013, AND SO B&F MOVES TO NEXT LEGISLATION, WHICH IS SPONSORED BY DELEGATE DWIGHT WITHERSPOON.
LEGISLATION 0279-13; AMENDING THE NAVAJO NATION FISCAL YEAR 2014 BUDGET INSTRUCTIONS AND POLICY MANUAL. B&F COMMITTEE HAS FINAL APPROVAL.
No Debate, Vote 4 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED AT 12:30 PM
B&F NOW ON LEGISLATION 0268-13: APPROVING INTERGOVERNMENTAL AGREEMENT BETWEEN NAVAJO NATION AND SAN JUAN COUNTY, NM, TO REPAIR, MAINTAIN AND IMPROVE ROAD PROJECTS FOR THE SAFETY AND GENERAL BENEFIT OF NM AND NAVAJO NATION RESIDENTS AND TRAVELERS. NAA’BIKI’YATI’ COMMITTEE HAS FINAL APPROVAL.
SPONSORS – DELEGATES DANNY SIMPSON AND GEORGE APACHITO
VOTE AT 12:35 PM, 4 IN FAVOR, 0 OPPOSED
LEGISLATION 0256-13: APPROVING CLOSING OUT THE NAVAJO NATION PARKS AND RECREATION CAPITAL ACCOUNT UNDER BUSINESS UNIT CO1346 AND CREATING SEPARATE NON-CAPITAL BUSINESS UNITS (N ACCOUNTS) FOR THE FIVE NAVAJO NATION PARKS AND RECREATION FUND BALANCE FOR PROPRIETARY FUND ACCOUNT NUMBER 915001 FOR $4 MILLION.
SPONSOR – DELEGATE WALTER PHELPS no show
B&F COMMITTEE CHAIRPERSON LORENZO BATES
lot of misunderstanding about $3 million for Decentralization Project and so ask committee to hold public meeting on explanation of Decentralization Project, which is not to terminate the 110 chapters, which wud also terminate elected chapter officials. I will arrange dates.
Committeee approves.
ADJOURN 12:40 pm
