Koror, Palau – On Friday September 21, after the Olbiil Era Kelulau passed the second supplemental budget as a rider under the Senior Citizens Discount legislation, President Toribiong approved and signed the legislation into law in addition to submitting the 2013 fiscal year budget proposal with less than one week left until the end of the current fiscal year.
The legislation appropriated the sum of $1,958,800 to various agencies including the OEK, Election Commission and the medical referral program. The second supplemental budget will cover national government operations for the current fiscal year, which ends on September 30.
In addition, President Toribiong submitted the 2013 fiscal year budget proposal in the amount of $66,642,200, which is now pending in the OEK.
In light of the current time frame before the new fiscal year begins, the Senate passed a continuing budget authority for FY 2013 as a rider to a bill ratifying the authority of the President to secure a loan with Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Koror-Airai Sanitation Project.
According to the rider, the continuing budget authority will provide funding for the new fiscal year at the same level of appropriation as the current fiscal year until a new budget is passed.
The legislation is now pending in the House of Delegates.
By R. Jonathan, OTV