Guam - In light of the government's current financial situation, the governor has requested yet another stay on the court ordered payments for the amended permanent injunction. Details have been revealed about why GovGuam argues it shouldn't have to show the court the money.

The island's public sector missed yesterday's deadline to fork out $3.2 million for the amended permanent injunction and they've asked the court to halt any more scheduled payments.  The government's ongoing financial crisis is the main reason for the request but officials also believe it may not cost as much, as was first thought, to come into compliance with providing care and services for individuals with disabilities.
 
The federal management team originally said it would cost between $20 million to $25 million to help bring the Government of Guam into compliance with providing care for individuals with disabilities, specifically for those who can be treated in community based homes rather than being institutionalized. It's a task they said could be completed by the end of next year. Now as a result of that budget, District Court Judge Consuelo Marshall ordered a payment plan and so far the government has paid out in excess of $8 million. It missed yesterday's $3.2 million dollar payment due to the ongoing financial crisis.  

But governor's legal counsel Maria Cenzon believes the federal management team doesn't need the money right now anyway, as more than $7 million sits in a trust account for their immediate use.  Additionally, she notes that the FMT's original projections of how much it would cost to come into compliance with the court's order have drastically been reduced.  The team now believes it will cost around $15.9 million over the course of the next three years.

The price tag dropped partially because the FMT has entered into long-term leases making construction of new homes, which would cost about $3.2 million, unnecessary.  That's the same amount that GovGuam was scheduled to pay on Tuesday. Cenzon argues that the government shouldn't have to make any more payments until the court reviews an amended plan of action that the FMT was ordered to submit by November. That amended plan must also come with a budget outlining the implementation. 

Additionally, Cenzon noted that federal funding may be available to address financial needs under the amended plan of action.  She cites a nearly $23 million appropriation from the Department of Defense's Office of Economic Adjustment for civilian infrastructure improvements to support and sustain the military buildup on Guam that could be used for the construction of a mental health and substance abuse facility among others. Because of these reasons, Cenzon has requested that the governor be allowed to submit an amended payment schedule after the court approves the amended plan of action.
  
Depending on the judge's ruling on the government's latest request, the next deposit isn't scheduled until January in the amount of $1 million. 

The federal management team meanwhile has been ordered to submit an amended plan of action that includes the budgetary needs for its implementation plan by November 24.