by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - While the Guam Election Commission continues to work on the audit of the 2010 general election along with fulfilling other mandates of the election reform law, they also have a possible impending budget deficit to worry about. GEC executive director Maria Pangelinan tells KUAM News that she is working on paying over $250,000 in overdue expenses.

She says the GEC has an outstanding balance of $205,000 owed to the Law Offices of Cabot and Mantanona for litigation and legal services dating back to 2005. She adds several other expenses stem from last year's general election, including owing $18,000 to Public Works for bussing, $15,000 to Guam Police for escorting precinct officials and ballots and about $20,000 to the University of Guam for the rental of the Field House and use of the computer center to maintain the GEC's voter registration.

She adds the GEC also spent $38,000 on the Prop 'A' initiative, which wasn't including the budget for Fiscal Year 2013. The initiative wasn't considered until after the budget call was made and submitted.

Pangelinan says she was advised by the Commission to write to lawmakers along with the Governor's Office to address the funding concerns.

Pangelinan adds there has been a budget call for the GEC in which she's also taking into account several new areas within the election reform law such as increase precinct official pay from $170 to $350.