4:06 p.m.
Vice Speaker BJ Cruz raised concern that the Governor’s budget bill does not include funding specifically for drug courts separate from the Judiciary operations budget.
The Governor, in the spirit of compromise, agrees to cut his own budget by $200,000, the BBMR budget by $50,000, and the BSP budget by $100,000 in order to fund the drug courts separately.
There also was concern from Sen. Muna Barnes that she could not find the appropriation for the mayors for various operational needs. We want to assure senators the appropriations are there, and can be found starting on Page 26 of the budget.