Navajo President Buu Nygren has warned the tribe that it could face a government shutdown if a comprehensive budget is not passed.
The warning went out to the tribe late Wednesday but was also directed at the Navajo Legislative branch which Nygren said has not sent him a budget for the new fiscal year by a deadline of this past Tuesday.
The president said he should have received the budget and then signed it into law just ahead of the new fiscal year in October.
Nygren says he had to give government employees a two week warning of a possible shutdown.
"Starting Monday we’re going to give some notices out," he said. "But I think it’s just going to be a notice. I’m very hopeful that whether it’s a comprehensive budget with such a quick turnaround, in about two weeks, there’s not a lot of pressing legislation before council, that possibility’s still available."
The other option is to adopt a continuing resolution and operate at a reduced amount of last year’s budget for three months.
