SAIPAN — The Department of Finance has issued its final cut-off dates and blackout schedule for closing out Fiscal Year 2026, warning agencies that year-end financial activities must be submitted on time and that several offices will close to the public during reconciliation periods this fall.
In a memorandum to all CNMI government agencies dated Monday, Secretary of Finance Tracy B. Norita said the deadlines are essential to ensure timely processing, accurate reporting and a smooth transition into FY2027. Financial activities associated with FY2027 will not be processed until the blackout periods conclude, the memo said.
Executive agencies face the earliest deadline, with FY2026 requisitions and purchase orders cutting off Aug. 31. The Legislature and Judiciary have until Sept. 30. All agencies then face an Oct. 15 deadline for receiving on FY2026 general fund purchases, accounts payable and invoice processing, travel and expense claims, and property management additions.
The blackout calendar starts with Procurement Services’ purchasing and contracts sections closing to the public Oct. 1 through 8. From Oct. 16 through 23, Financial Services except payroll, Procurement’s Property Management Branch and the CNMI Treasury all close. The Secretary of Finance’s office runs year-end functions Nov. 23 through 27, and a systemwide blackout for all users and agencies hits Oct. 1 and again Dec. 28 through 31.
During blackouts, Finance offices are closed to the public, agencies will be limited in submitting transactions and system access may be fully unavailable, the memo said, with staff prioritizing year-end reconciliations, rollovers and data validation.
Not everything goes dark. Payroll operations continue, with the department asking agencies to submit payroll documents as required. The U.S. Passport Acceptance Office, located in Capitol Hill Building 1253, stays open, and all government cash collection points remain operational, including the Division of Customs Biosecurity and the Division of Revenue and Taxation.
The department asked agencies to clear outstanding encumbrances, complete reconciliations before the blackout periods and coordinate early with Finance to resolve exceptions or data issues.
