The Fiscal 2016 budget took effect October 1st with two seemingly inconsistencies in fiscal restraint—lawmakers giving themselves a salary raise by 40 percent, and possible layoffs, including some positions, which Gov. Eddie Calvo stressed, were key positions, like the already filled up 19 vacancies at the Department of Corrections.
Already, the Legislature has come under fire from private groups like the Guamanians for Fair Government, saying the law that granted the salary increases was enacted in a “shady manner.”
“We’re moving towards 2016,” Andri Baynum, chair of the group, said. This “is when the people are going to be able to decide if they want to have these types of leaders continue to stay in office and undermine a democracy and undermine the importance of public hearings and the importance of people getting involved.”
The Governor’s Office had maintained that the budget passed by the Legislature on Aug. 24, by a 13-1 vote, didn’t provide enough funds for the government’s various agencies.
Among the objections raised by the Governor over the budget bill, 37-33, were:
•The bill contains critical shortfalls in the areas of public safety and public health. DOC is already under federal scrutiny and there are vacancies the Executive Branch is working to fill because they are required to ensure efficient and safe operations.
•Over 100 additional cuts in various GovGuam agencies, some of which have been filled.
•Funding for the Department of Public Works and related capital improvement projects is less than what is currently needed for DPW services and projects. DPW doesn’t have enough personnel and may have to lay off people.
The pay-raise measure, enacted as Public Law 32-208, also raised the salaries of the attorney general, governor, lieutenant governor and Cabinet appointees. The raises were pursuant to last year’s government-wide income adjustment called the Competitive Wage Act of 2014.
The measure was passed without a public hearing, with the senators citing a Guam law that states public hearings can be waived in the event of danger to public health or safety, or if the bill is identical to a bill that already had a public hearing. In this case, Public Law 32-208 is an amendment of Public Law 32-136.
The salary hike required an appropriation of $8.4 million, an increase of about $1 million compared to its budget in fiscal years 2013 and 2014.
For comparisons, Speaker Judith Won Pat, prior to the November wage adjustments, was making nearly $68,000 a year, while each of the remaining senators took home close to $61,000 annually. Each member of the legislative body currently makes $85,000, meaning the Legislature is paying about $360,000 more in salary expenses./The Junction News Team
