CNMI has until Dec. 31, 2026 to spend ARPA funds
THE CNMI has until Dec. 31, 2026 to spend the state and local fiscal recovery funds that it received from the federal government under the American Rescue Plan Act, U.S. Congresswoman Kimberlyn King-Hinds said.
She was responding to the inquiry of Senate Vice President Karl King-Nabors, who requested a "most up-to-date information" on the CNMI's expenditures of the pandemic assistance funds.
King-Hinds said of the $481.8 million in ARPA funds that the CNMI received from the federal government, $443.7 million had been expended as of Sept. 30, 2024.
As of Dec. 31, 2024, King-Hinds said the U.S. Treasury informed her that the CNMI had obligated 100% of its fiscal recovery funds.
She said the deadline to expend these funds is Dec. 31, 2026, except for the funds under Surface Transportation and Title I categories, which, she added, must be expended by Sept. 30, 2026.
King-Hinds provided the senator a breakdown of the cumulative obligations for recipients, indicating that as of Sept. 30, 2024, there was a $44.5 million unobligated balance in Tier 1 recipients, which include states and territories.
This table, King-Hinds said, reflects data for Tier 1 recipients only. It does not include obligations made by Tier 2 recipients, which consist of funds allocated directly to CNMI municipalities.
She said the U.S. Treasury also clarified that ARPA project and expenditure reports are cumulative and reflect all obligations reported through each respective reporting period.
While the detailed fourth quarter report for 2024 has not yet been published, the U.S. Treasury confirmed that the CNMI reported full obligation of the remaining $44.5 million in funds as of Dec. 31, 2024.
King-Hinds said she has submitted a request to the U.S. Treasury regarding the status of any review by the Office of Inspector General into ARPA expenditures.
Asked for comment, Finance Secretary Tracy B. Norita said the numbers presented in King-Hinds' letter "reflect the quarterly reporting by our office."