by Sabrina Salas Matanane

PRESS RELEASE - Governor receives approval from DOI, credits Sen. Yamashita

Two months ago, Senator Aline Yamashita approached the Governor and implored him to find at least $1 million in funding for the University of Guam. She warned this shortfall could lead to a tuition increase. Today, Governor Eddie Baza Calvo received word that more Section 30 monies will come to Guam. This includes the funding Sen. Yamashita was looking for.

"Sen. Yamashita isn't the kind of person who promotes herself or the work she is doing, so I want to give her credit for this," Governor Calvo said. "I want the UOG students to know that she and Dr. Robert Underwood have been fighting to avert a tuition increase well before this issue was ever in the news."

BACKGROUND

UOG President Dr. Robert Underwood raised the issue of a shortfall for UOG with Sen. Yamashita and others as the budget process went on. He was concerned the shortfall would force the University to raise tuition rates, something he did not want to do.

Sen. Yamashita then brought this issue up with the administration. She also raised the issue several times on the floor of the legislature during the budget process.

The Governor's fiscal team began looking at options to cover this shortfall. The Bureau of Budget and Management Research looked to the government of Guam's planned repayment to the U.S. Treasury of an overpayment of Section 30 monies.

After conducting some research and working out the numbers, Governor Calvo then sent a request to the Department of the Interior to work out a payment plan and spread out the repayments for Fiscal Year 2012. This would mean the government of Guam would receive more cash from Section 30 funds.

That request was approved. The Governor received the notice this morning.

This means there is funding for the UOG shortfall, enough to avert a tuition increase. It also means there will be cash to help with the projected nearly-$40 million shortfall for this fiscal year, which ends September 30. The cash will be in the bank next week.