Governor intends to sign budget bill

by Ken Quintanilla

Guam - Governor Eddie Calvo says he is inclined to sign the Fiscal Year 2014 budget bill passed by lawmakers last week. He adds while there are areas he did not agree with specifically the increase in the tax refunds provision from $113 million to $120 million, he says the bill did authorize flexibility in terms of helping the hospital.

"We do believe that the flexibility and that allowance to solve the issues at the hospital for these emergent needs NOW that those are the two game changers to me that allow me to look forward in signing this bill once its passed through the litmus test of our lawyers and those in policy," he said.

The budget bill provides $33.4 million in transfer authorizations to the governor to assist GMH. The measure meanwhile directly appropriates $17.2 million to GMH for the next fiscal year.