Tsosie pulls bill to streamline budget process

Posted by Arlyssa Becenti | Jul 14, 2016 | Politics |

Leonard Tsosie

WINDOW ROCK

Navajo Nation Council Delegate Leonard Tsosie’s (Littlewater/ Pueblo Pintado/Torreon/Whitehorse Lake/Baca/Brewitt/Casamero Lake/Ojo Encino/Counselor) first item of business as a newly minted member of the Budget and Finance committee was to get the tribal budget sent directly to the committee without a public comment period and only some discussion with the other committees.

This legislation, which would amend Title II of the Navajo Nation Code, was discussed for a considerable amount of time, but alas, the bill was tabled, and a work session was requested. In objection to the work session Tsosie withdrew the legislation altogether, and said the purpose to the legislation is to streamline the process of approving the Nation’s budget.

“There’s no comment period, but you can still get on the web so you still have transparency,” said Tsosie. “It will immediately be referred to Budget and Finance, so the budget process could almost immediately begin.”

The legislation states that the Navajo Nation budget process takes four months, not counting the time for it to be prepared by the Office of Management and Budget and the Office of the Controller. Budget deliberations also take a considerable amount of time, according to the legislation.

“The interests of the Navajo Nation are best served by referring legislation, for the purpose of enacting or amending the Nation’s comprehensive budget, directly to the Budget and Finance Committee,” stated the legislation. “The five-day public comment period does not advance the Nation’s interest because it delays the legislation from reaching the Committees.”

Tsosie explained that originally the comment period was only intended for staff, Navajo departments and chapters to comment but was later “coined” as a public forum. Another stipulation in the legislation would allow the Speaker of the Navajo Nation to vote on the budget should it be necessary.