by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Last week the Judiciary of Guam presented its $29 million budget request for the coming fiscal year. During that hearing, the Judiciary noted concerns with paying the third and fourth increments for the Law Enforcement Incentive Pay Program, totaling $2.5 million.

Public Safety chair Senator Adolpho Palacios tells KUAM News that although there's been rumor about efforts to repeal the law that created the law enforcement incentive pay, he says it would be moot after September 30 to make the attempt because of a retroactive provision that is against the law. He is, however, concerned about there being no budget request to pay for the remaining increments due to public safety personnel.

He explained, "My thinking is that there will be a time where there will be enough money to pay that. I am glad that at this point though it remains an obligation so that anytime in the future in a year and a half from now, probably then we can actually do a special appropriation like the tax refund and then just pay it out."

Budget hearings for the Unified Courts of Guam continue tomorrow at the Guam Legislature at 9am.