by Leah Eclavea

Guam - While the Government of Guam is pushing to have tax refunds paid out by the end of the year, it seems the very agency tasked with cutting those checks faces the threat of being without a home. For months the Department of Revenue & Taxation has been struggling with its lease at the former Price Costco building in Barrigada Heights.

The agency is coming up on the eleventh hour before the lease expires. Rev & Tax Director John Camacho said, "The problem is there's a submission for invitation for bid and there's no funding for that, currently a protest has been submitted and I believe there a protest that will be submitted to the public auditor."

A procurement appeal with Joeten Development - the company that currently leases the DRT building - is making its way through the Office of Public Accountability. A prehearing conference was held this afternoon and a hearing to officially discuss the matter is scheduled for August 25. The irony is that the lease will be up on August 9.

Said Camacho, "Hopefully everything will turn out good and we continue to maintain the building at least there to continue the service and hopefully we can get some kind of agreement in the near future."

Joeten submitted a bid for about $81,000 - that's less than the $88,000 that DRT is paying now. However, the company was turned away until the government can find the funds. It's another issue Camacho says is being worked on, as he said, "The budget is coming up and we have a few months to go this fiscal year. I think that the amount we are looking at is being worked on by GSA and legal counsel."

Camacho met with Governor Eddie Calvo this afternoon to discuss the agency's budget, and the release of overdue tax returns. He says he is letting the legal proceedings take course. Camacho does admit there is no backup plan in the event they need to vacate the Barrigada facility however he does say services will not be disrupted.