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Guam - So just how much in merit bonus retroactive payments were paid out when authorized by Governor Eddie Calvo in 2012? In an audit released by the Guam Office of Public Accountability, close to $13 million. 4,200 current and former Government of Guam employees were paid merit bonus retroactive payments when the governor first ordered they be issued two years ago.


Enacted into law in September 1991 the merit bonus program was designed to award certain classified government employees a lump sum payment of 3.5% of their base pay salary if they received a superior performance evaluation. Those bonuses however were never paid until Calvo came into office. In December 2012 the first ever payments were made. Since then a total of $12.6 million in retro payments were issued.


The OPA has released the findings of an audit into those payments. Their objective was simple:


1. To determine the total paid out: which was nearly $13 million


2. Determine if these payments were made in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.


According to the findings there were disparities in the how they were paid in various government agencies


For example: the Guam Housing Corporation did not have complete documents to support merit bonus payments to 2 employees. Three agencies namely the Guam Visitors Bureau, DepCor and the Guam Police Department awarded merit bonuses for a rating other than the highest possible on performance evaluations to three employees. One GWA employee was able to receive a merit bonus equivalent to 8.5% of their salary as opposed to the 3.5% noted in public law.  As well DOE paid out merit bonus net check amounts rather than gross amounts.  In total auditors found close to $40,000 in questioned costs.


Taking a look at the top five agencies with the largest merit bonuses costs topping this list was Public Health which paid out $2.2 million in merit bonuses. The Department of Education at $1.3 million, third on the list the Judiciary of Guam paying out $879,000 in merit bonuses. Not too far behind at number four: the Guam Police Department with $849,000 and at number five the Department of Administration which paid out $651,000 in merit bonuses.


We should also note the highest merit bonus paid was almost $30,000 while the lowest was $237.


If you're wondering whether any more merit bonuses will be paid out in the future, its not likely as the GovGuam Competitive Wage Act of 2014, suspended the program until such time DOA can reassess the system of evaluation used to govern the eligibility for the bonuses. You can read the audit findings at guamopa.org.