Judiciary seeks $29M budget

by Mindy Aguon

Guam - Discussions on the Fiscal Year 2013 budget continued at the Legislature today with the Judiciary of Guam explaining their request for $5.6 million more for the coming fiscal year. The Judiciary has been struggling for years to get adequate allotments on time and has been reducing expenses by light retrofitting, maintaining air conditioners, making bulk purchases and not filling funded vacancies.

Court policy, planning and communications director Joshua Tenorio says the $29 million budget would pay for statutory mandates and operational expenses. "About $2.5 million is needed for the third and fourth increment for the law enforcement incentive pay program that was enacted in the 29th Guam Legislature and also the second largest is more than $650,000 in court indigent fund fees and jury expenses," he said.

Public Safety Committee chairperson senator Adolpho Palacios revealed during the hearing that the Calvo Administration is proposing to repeal the law that created the law enforcement incentive pay.

Tenorio said that the courts want to maintain the provision in the law that guarantees  the cash remittances from the Executive Branch on a monthly basis. The Executive Branch is proposing to repeal this statute.  "While there has been some disagreement with the Executive Branch on the interpretation of the statute, the Governor and Chief Justice agreed that the Judiciary would receive no less than 87% of its allotments at all times based on the actual cash received," stated Tenorio.