The budget, totaling about $1.3 billion, drew mixed reactions from both sides of the aisle.

Senator Tina Muña Barnes ultimately voted in favor, but not without reservations.

“This bill is far from perfect – I’ll admit it. Was there a better way to reduce the tax burden on our local businesses? I think so,” said Sen. Muña-Barnes. 

Still, she says the measure makes meaningful investments in education and public safety by appropriating funds to rebuild Simon Sanchez High School and a new prison.

Senator Christopher Dueñas frames the budget as a statement of values.

“And through collaboration and compromise, we have delivered a plan that reflects priorities for our people,” said Sen. Dueñas.

He points to tax relief for businesses through the reduction of the Business Privilege Tax, $11 million in airline incentives to help revive our tourism industry, new funding for the Guam Memorial Hospital, and investments in the Mayors’ Council of Guam.

“Colleagues, that’s not just one senator’s vision. This is not one party’s platform. This is a collective result of working together,” said Dueñas. 

But sharp criticism came from two senators, both accusing the republican majority of catering to the wealthy 1%.

“Adopting this MAGA, ‘let’s give it all to the 1%’, ‘loot the government while the going is good’ – it does not serve the people,” added Sen. William Parkinson. 

“They say it’s balanced, but we’ll see how balanced this budget bill is when our critical public services fall flat on their face and our people are left to foot the bill for $80M in corporate tax discounts,” said Sen. Chris Barnett. 

Barnett warned that lawmakers will be back in an emergency session next week to deal with unresolved issues at GMH.

Still, Vice Speaker Tony Ada says this budget will help GovGuam live within its means.

“The difference between the executive budget and our budget is $7M out of a $1.3B budget,” added Vice Spkr. Ada. 

Outside the session hall, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero tore into the budget in a press release, accusing the republican majority of selling out the people of Guam to “make the rich richer”.

She states, “this budget is a scam, built on phantom money and false promises. The republican-led legislature chose to line the pockets of select millionaires over our kids’ classrooms, our hospital beds, and families just trying to get by.”

She pledges to review the budget as amended, not leaving the chance for a veto off the table.