WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — The Navajo Nation’s fiscal year 2022 Comprehensive Budget was signed into law on Sept. 27. It included full funding for the Navajo Nation Department of Criminal Investigations totaling over $10 million from general funds and external funds combined. In addition, the approval of the Comprehensive Budget included carryover funding from FY2021 that is estimated to be more $1 million as of Sept. 28.
“We fully support the Department of Criminal Investigations and we understand the importance of their work for our people. We are open to working together with the Council to address any additional funding needs whether it be through a supplemental funding request or another source,” Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez said.
The Navajo Nation Office of the President and Vice President is also advocating at the federal level with members of Congress and the Biden-Harris Administration to secure more federal funding for public safety for the Navajo Nation.
“Federal advocacy has led to steady increases in funding for criminal investigations over the years,” he said. “We are fully engaged with congressional members and federal agencies to support increased funding in the federal budget bill that is being debated in Congress right now.”
The FY2022 Comprehensive Budget was approved by the 24th Navajo Nation Council by a vote of 18-3 Sept. 10, and will go into effect Oct. 1. The three branch chiefs allocated approximately $177 million in general funds for the branches of government.
The Office of the President and Vice President issued a press release Sept. 27 stating that the line-item veto authority was used for $881,000 for the Department of Criminal Investigations because the department is set to receive approximately $1 million in additional carryover funding in the upcoming fiscal year.
Nez also approved full funding for the Office of the Prosecutor, and carryover funding from the previous fiscal year that will provide an additional minimum amount of $320,000.
