GovGuam lays out savings for DNA move

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Several GovGuam agencies are moving out of the DNA Building in Hagatna as part of Governor Eddie Calvo's plan to stabilize the government's finances and cut costs. According to Governor Calvo's chief of communications Troy Torres, a total of five agencies will be moving out of the DNA Building saving nearly a million dollars a year just on rent alone.

He says yearly rent for CAHA costs $36,000; the Guam Fire Department costs $110,000; the Department of Corrections costs $114,000; the Department of Chamorro Affairs not including the repository costs $190,000; and the Department of Integrated Services for Individuals with Disabilities costs $350,000 a year. "Those are considerable costs just for rent alone and it has nothing to do with the services provided to the consumers or customers of these agencies and whatever we can do to curtail those expenses and help the fiscal situation in the government, we're going to do," said Torres.

Torres says the lease at the DNS Building expires September 30 where these agencies will have to find a new home. DOC will relocate to the main facility in Mangilao where GFD will put its civilian staff into its housing in Tiyan and uniform personnel to different central fire stations.

He adds the plan doesn't affect the Office of the Public Accountability, as it is an autonomous agency.