Adelup continues review of Bill 323
Aug. 15, 2018
Hagåtña — Section 30 funds expected this year will be $68 million.
About a week ago, the Bureau of Budget Management and Research sent a request to the Department of the Interior for $78 million. This week, the Department of the Interior wrote that the amount remitted will actually be about $68 million – based on information submitted to them from the Democratic leadership and as presented in the Legislature by Speaker Cruz, Sen. Mike San Nicolas and Sen. Regine Biscoe Lee last year in their argument against the administration’s fight to get tax refunds to people faster using a financial tool called the Tax and Revenue Anticipation Note.
This leads up to the letter received from Speaker Cruz regarding the error in Budget Bill 323 that was passed by the 34th Guam Legislature on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. The Administration obviously shares the concerns about the impact of the error. As presented to the Governor’s office later that same night, the bill restricts the hiring of unclassified employees throughout the government, impacting the ability to fund positions for teachers, nurses, doctors and others.
We would like to note that it was made very clear in previous discussions relative to the TRAN bill by Secretary of the Legislature Sen. Lee that a bill voted upon by the Legislature was final.
The Administration continues its review of the budget bill, as passed and transmitted, as that review has already begun.
“We continue our review of the bill and will provide you with information. We will need to work together to make the necessary adjustments to ensure continuity for our people and stability for our government through a balanced FY2019 budget,” Governor Calvo stated in a letter to Speaker Cruz today.