DOE's budget request: $284M

by Krystal Paco

Guam - GovGuam's largest agency presented their $284 million budget request for Fiscal Year 2014.

DOE superintendent Jon Fernandez is hoping lawmakers will consider additional requests including the increased utility rate that took effect in February as well as costs associated with facilities, the opening of the Southern High School gym and fine arts auditorium, a soon to be renovated Untalan Middle School campus, an expansion to Okkodo High School, the opening of a new Tiyan high school and a possible central office relocation.

"This is what it takes to run our department without adding any new investments," he said.  

Meanwhile, lawmakers questioned the status of DOE's $60 million in ARRA funding scheduled to expire at the end of the present fiscal year. Fernandez says those funds are in the process of being encumbered with roughly $11 million left and slated to be used for the Untalan Middle School renovation.