Senators pressed to find DOE $41M

by Michele Catahay

Guam - While the Department of Education is banking on supplemental funds to hold the agency through the fiscal year, it seems like the Guam Legislature may have a hard time finding a funding source. Committee Chair on Education Speaker Judi Won Pat says GovGuam cannot afford to pull from the General Fund because it already has problems covering payroll for all other agencies.

"It's going to be difficult," she shared.  "I know we're going to have to work very closely with oversight chair Senator Ben Pangelinan, BBMR, DOA, and Rev & Tax and more importantly the governor in hopes that he will continue to commit the use of compact impact money, that's the only place right now that we know that monies are available."

DOE has requested for $41 million to cover operational costs, consolidated grant employees and the interim JFK lease with CoreTech International.