Guam - GovGuam's largest agency presented its Fiscal Year 2013 budget request before the Guam Legislature this morning and they're asking for close to $300 million.  Before the Department of Education could present their budget request for FY2013, the agency had to set the record straight - they're looking at a $24 million shortfall before the end of the present year if Governor Eddie Calvo doesn't release their 15% reserve.

According to DOE deputy superintendent of finance and administrative services Taling Taitano, DOE was authorized $207.1 million for FY2012, but only allotted $130 million as of May 31. The $30 million reserve has also kept doe from purchasing important supplies, including $2 million budgeted for textbooks.

DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez said, "We've heard his public statement that the reserve will be released, but we haven't heard any specific timing for that release and we have not heard a final amount on whether it's the whole 15% or some other amount, so Taling's just trying to lead those discussions on what our needs are and when we'll run short."

Looking ahead, DOE is requesting $294 million for FY2013. According to Committee on Appropriations Chair Senator Ben Pangelinan, that's $86 million more than what the Legislature was hoping to authorize to the agency and $79 million more than what the governor proposed. "I guess you're adding in additional expenditures that were not a part of last year, for example $6.4 million for the Tiyan lease maintenance and insurance on top of that, so these were not included in the budget last year, so it's not additional operating money really its for additional expenses," he said.

Additional expenses, like the $4 million to cover DOE's third-party fiduciary agent, which oversees the millions of dollars in federal funding as well as assists doe out of high-risk status. In prior years, this was paid out of state fiscal stabilization funds.

And additional expenses as pointed out by Minority Leader Frank Blas, Jr., DOE is requesting additional funding to hire two locksmiths, 15 electricians, 13 plumbers, and 14 refrigeration mechanics. "I see the proposed new positions but I don't necessarily see - you're going to bring on a HVAC or an air conditioning mechanic or a plumber, but I don't see plumbing supplies or equipment. I don't want it to be a matter of we're going to hire the position but we don't have the tools," he said.

Pangelinan and Blas both urged Fernandez to consider a past bill that would hand over DOE facilities to the Department of Public Works, so DOE can focus on educating students, not fixing facilities.