An oversight hearing at the Guam Legislature put the Guam Fire Department under the microscope - as Senator Shawn Gumataotao pressed for answers on preparedness, accountability, and the long-standing e-911 surcharge. The chair of public safety says the review is critical as the legislature moves toward performance-based budgeting ahead of Fiscal Year 2027, and as questions continue over how e-911 funds are being collected and used.

It was an opportunity for Sen. Gumataotao see where the Guam Fire Department is, as he said, "In their preparation for their performance-based budgeting process, which our Finance Committee through Sen. Chris Duenas has initiated in preparation for FY2027, today's discussion will also focus on the e911 Fund."

Gumataotao says the fund has been an issue that his office has attempted to address with GFD since February of last year. "This oversight hearing will confirm where the Guam Fire Department is in respect to monthly surcharge collection and the funds impact on the department's personnel and equipment needs and associated contractual obligations," he said.

When Gumataotao inquired with GFD chief Daren Burrier what he's been doing to prepare for the performance-based budgeting approach? "We've been setting up our KPIs here in order to identify where are needs are, where are funding would be rewuired to be to improve. So what weve been presenting to you as far as what we're tracking in order to show where the money is going to and where we're going to need in our budget in order to meet those targets in our performance," said the chief.

Gumataotao then moved onto the topic of the e911 surcharge. He indicated that the committee reached out on Feb. 7 and May 12, 2025, he wanted to know what steps has GFD taken to petition the Public Utilities Commission, for changes to the surcharge since the establishment of the e911 surcharge in June 1999.

"It has been delayed to identify funding to hire a consultant to determine how we're going to be able to best do a surcharge  for 911 services," he said.

Gumataotaotao further pressed if there has been any engagement with the PUC? Deputy Fire Chief Joey San Nicolas said, "I have in the past 12 months or probably in late 2024, have spoken to Fred Horecky, the legal for utilities and that's where we got the requirement to hire a consultant. To assess our fees and fines schedule."