FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 31, 2019)– This budget is not perfect, it still has some fat and some agencies will be hard pressed to achieve more than the status quo. We will have to rely not just on management, but also on every government employee to find efficiencies.

But this budget does have some good things in it. This budget adds 50 new police officers, if everybody can do their part to get those processed.

It also adds money to expand our children’s shelter and get at least 24 more of the 200+ homeless children safely off the street, and to support the Autism Shelter.

This budget sets aside for tax refunds, and sets aside a rainy day fund for reduction of the deficit.

This budget allows flexibility for the Governor in areas where there may be critical shortfalls and for DPW to focus on the roads.

This budget also locks up $10-million for the first time in years toward repairs and safety, and CMS approval at the Guam Memorial Hospital while we confirm the long-term plan. I hope in good faith that this money does not get diverted.

All the rest, we will have to work harder on throughout the year.

I would like to thank my colleagues for their debate of the issues and support of sometimes controversial amendments. I would like to thank the Office and Finance and Budget and the Legislature’s staff for their hard work.

Most importantly, I would also like to thank the people of Guam for their attention and for continuing to care about our island and government. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and advice with us throughout this entire process. Together, with focus and hard work, we can go forward and address even those long-standing challenges one by one. I humbly ask that you never stop asking questions and never stop expecting better.

Si Yu’os Ma’åse’

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 29, 2019) — Hoping to lead by example, Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje’s attempted amendment to cut the Guam Legislature’s budget in order to purchase medical equipment is ruled out of order.

Because the FY2020 appropriations for the Guam Legislature is above the FY2019 levels, Senator Terlaje moved to cut $424,345 and appropriate the funding to the Guam Memorial Hospital for medical equipment and supplies including an anesthesia machine and dialysis machine. The amendment was co-sponsored by Senator Amanda Shelton and Senator Sabina Perez.

With all due respect, everyone is working hard. We have seen a reduction in salary below many people in the Government of Guam, and we’re all in need of more staff. However, when we look at many of our government agencies, like GMH and DOE, who we’ve asked to tow the lines to 2019 levels with a reduced budget, we have to do the same in the Guam Legislature.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Committee on Health Chairperson

The attempted amendment was ruled out of order by the chairperson since it was not offered while on the page for the Guam Legislature’s budget. A motion to overrule did not receive enough senatorial votes.

While the amendment was not included in the budget bill, Senator Terlaje plans to introduce legislation regarding this proposal.

Lawmakers completed discussion on Bill 186-35 and rose from the Committee of the Whole. The budget bill was placed in the voting file. Session vote will resume Saturday, August 31, 2019 at 9:30pm.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (August 28, 2019)– Committee on Health Chairperson Senator Therese M. Terlaje thanks her colleagues for their unanimous support in moving forward with a budget bill amendment to help the Guam Memorial Hospital. 

A day after being shut down for trying to lock up potential Fiscal Year 2020 excess revenues, Senator Terlaje amended the budget bill to provide $10-million of excess Fiscal Year 2019 income tax and business privilege tax revenues and deposit into a newly created Hospital Capital Improvement. Use of these funds require a public hearing and legislative appropriation. The amendment passed late Tuesday night during session. 

The latest version of the budget bill only appropriates $28-million to GMH primarily for operations. Bill 186-35 did NOT address GMH’s critical Capital Improvement Projects. GMH outlined $57-million worth of CIP; however set its top three priorities including a new electronic health records (EHR) system, electrical panel replacement, and structural roof repair. The EHR system is estimated to cost $21.8-million, the electrical panel at $6-million, and the structural roof repair at $5-million. These projects have been looming for years and are critical mandates raised by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). 

According to the latest Consolidated Revenue and Expenditure Reports and further confirmed by the Bureau of Budget and Management Research during session, GovGuam is “tracking $14-million in revenue above the amounts appropriated for the general fund,” with two more months to go (until the end of FY2019). 

These projects are critical, and not a luxury. We can’t look the other way when we know there are critical issues that need to be addressed at Guam’s only public hospital. While these excess funds won’t address all of GMH’s critical projects, it’s a start to get at least one done for sure. With concerns raised by CMS, and more importantly the safety and care of our patients and doctors at risk, I want to thank my colleagues for prioritizing health and addressing these issues that have been ongoing for years.

Senator Therese M. Terlaje, Committee on Health Chairperson

STATEMENT FROM SENATOR THERESE M. TERLAJE:

I am extremely disappointed this amendment didn’t pass in the Budget Bill. I want to thank my colleagues who voted in favor of helping the Guam Memorial Hospital. 

This amendment was aimed at holding our government accountable. This fight is not over. We need to stand our ground in this Legislature and demand that we see where any excess money is spent. More importantly, the people of Guam deserve to know this information. 

As we move forward with discussions, I’ll continue to work with my colleagues to address these issues whether in this budget bill or in separate legislation.

During discussion on Bill 186-35 or the Budget Bill for Fiscal Year 2020 on Monday, Senator Terlaje proffered an amendment to set aside excess income tax and business privilege tax revenues collected every month and deposit into a newly created “Hospital Capital Improvement Fund.” 

Senators who voted with Senator Terlaje in favor of the amendment include Vice Speaker Telena Nelson, Senator Amanda Shelton, Senator James Moylan and Senator Telo Taitague. 

The amendment would have required that excess money collected would be set aside into the Fund, and safeguarded or “locked away” from transfer authority or expenditure. For full transparency, the use of these funds would have to be subject to a public hearing and Legislative approval. 

Bill 186-35 currently does not address GMH’s critical Capital Improvement Projects. GMH outlined $57-million worth of CIP; however set its top three priorities including a new electronic health records (EHR) system, electrical panel replacement, and structural roof repair. The EHR system is estimated to cost $21.8-million, the electrical panel at $6-million, and the structural roof repair at $5-million. These projects have been looming for years and are critical mandates raised by CMS.

Watch discussion on the amendment in the Budget Bill: http://bit.ly/2U3O4io

Media Coverage:

5 senators vote to assist GMH with infrastructure funding http://bit.ly/2zqbyEM (Guam Daily Post)

Administration balks at monthly budget surplus set-aside http://bit.ly/2U3iL7s (KUAM News)

Senators start trying to divvy up excess revenues for hospital, village roads http://bit.ly/3257NkA (Pacific Daily News)