Navajo chapters need “clean audits” for N.M. funds; Involvement of Chapters needed on 5-Year CIP plan budget

Navajo Council Resources & Development Committee added LEGISLATION 0154-14: An Action Relating to Resources and Development, Budget and Finance and Naa’bik’iyati’ Committees; Approving the Intergovernmental Agreement Between the Navajo Nation and San Juan County Utah to Repair, Maintain and Improve Road Projects for the Safety and General Benefits of Utah and Navajo Nation Residents and Travelers, which was Sponsored by Delegate Jonathan Nez

No debate on 0154-14. RDC votes 3 in favor, 0 opposed on 0154-14

RDC ADJOURNS!

After the RDC meeting, RDC Chairperson Katherine Benally announces that New Mexico Representative Patricia Lundstrom invited elected Navajo Nation government officials to meet with her at 1:30 p.m. at the University of NM-Gallup Branch, room 270, regarding issues/problems that both the state and chapters are experiencing when chapters are appropriated state funds and they don’t spend the funds. And now the state is mandating that chapters have a “clean audit” before state approves funding for chapters.

Benally also reminded the RDC that there will be another meeting with chapters regarding the Navajo Nation Capital Improvement Projects 5-Year Plan on July 1, Tuesday, at 10 a.m. at Dine’ College in Tsaile, Ariz.

The meeting with chapters is after the RDC’s regular meeting, which will begin at 8 a.m. at Dine’ College, Tsaile.

She noted that the meetings with chapters on the CIP plan is because she believes that chapters should be involved in the funding plans/options of their CIPs that are in the Five-Year Plan.

The first year budget for the Five-Year Plan calls for $154 million. Under Navajo law, as soon as the Council approves a Five-Year CIP Plan, 95 percent of the Navajo Nation Permanent Trust Fund interest can be used to fund the chapters’ CIPs,

Benally explained. She added that 50 percent of the 95 percent goes to chapters that are Local Governance Certified and the other 50 percent is divided up among the other chapters.

Benally said that 95 percent of the PTF interest is between $25 million and $35 million.

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