Resuming public hearings on Bill 11, Senator Shawn Gumataotao says the issue is more straightforward that some are making it out to be.

 

“Instead of spending more tax payer money, Bill 11 seeks to return an estimated $80M to $85M to taxpayers so that they can decide how to best spend what was their money to begin with,” said Gumataotao. 

Gumataotao argued small and mid-sized businesses could use the savings to raise wages, hire more workers, and reinvest.

“It prioritizes entrepreneurship by supporting the very people who have sacrificed so much by believing and investing in Guam,” added Gumataotao. 

President of Century 21 Realty Christopher Felix says the burden has shifted unfairly onto business owners who are already cutting back just to stay open.

“When I can’t survive I’ve got to cut, cancel some of my trips, cut back on my salaries, freeze my salaries, I’ve got to do things to keep things going. I haven’t heard anything from the government saying ‘If we go to 4% we’re going to have to cut salaries, stop hiring’ nothing of that nature. It just doesn’t seem right for the government to say ‘Well, we need it from the businesses. We need that 1%. We’ve got to have it,’” added Felix. 

Monty McDowell, Government Affairs Chair for the Guam Association of Realtors, says it’s time the government honors its word, and its people.

“It was a difficult, but necessary decision at the time, made under the premise that it would sunset once fiscal stability returned. And yet, years have passed and the temporary increase has become a permanent burden,” said McDowell. 

Steven Guerrero, Director of the Office of Finance and Budget, broke down the numbers, saying a 1% cut from the Fiscal Year 2026 General Fund would mean a $72 million loss, bringing the fund from $906 million to $834 million.

“If it does go into effect, the challenge now is where are we going to identify $72M in the Government of Guam? The only thing I can say is that it would be very difficult to implement this at this time in the fiscal year because we’re already 9 months into the fiscal year,” added Guerrero. 

The hearing continues, and so does the debate over how to balance tax relief with government responsibility.

And with the hearing ongoing, KUAM’s Nevaeh Anderson will be back with a full breakdown tomorrow night right here on Primetime.