$5 million for GDOE to jeopardize critical CIPs, governor issues executive order to buy more time for alternative solution
November 20, 2009
Governor Felix P. Camacho met with his fiscal team this morning to discus Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo’s proposal that would avoid the Guam Department of Education’s (GDOE) anticipated federal funding shortfall.
“Our education system is in an unacceptable situation that compromises the instructional time of our students and places more than 300 GDOE employees in limbo with their jobs and the ability to support their families,” said Gov. Camacho. “While I share in the resolve to find funding that will avoid this situation, I must also realize that other departments and agencies throughout our island are relying on this CIP funding.”
The Department of the Interior awarded Guam more than $16 million for health, education, social or public safety services, and infrastructure-related projects. Of that amount, the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse (DMHSA) is slated to receive $500,000 to pay for major CIP and permanent injunction- related requirements.
In a letter to Gov. Camacho, DMHSA Director Dr. David Shimizu noted, “Any plan to redirect these funds will negatively impact DMHSA’s ability to comply with the court orders, consequently bringing this agency, and the government of Guam, much closer to the possibility of being placed under receivership.” The agency is required to give monthly updates on how it is meeting court orders related to the permanent injunction.
The redirection of CIP funding may also affect other funding commitments such as: $500,000 to DISID for projects related to the permanent injunction; $3.5 million to GMHA for capital improvement projects and equipment; $500,000 to DPHSS for pharmaceutical supplies; $527,026 to GPD for patrol vehicles; and $750,000 to GFD for fire pumper trucks.
“GMHA is already working toward expediting the procurement of these absolutely critical projects. All of these projects directly impact not only the provision of quality patient care services, but patient safety as well,” said GMH Director Peter John Camacho.
“We must identify another option, one that will not make us choose between our hospital’s full accreditation and the education of our children through federally funded programs … between meeting orders of Mental Health’s permanent injunction and keeping more than 300 GDOE employees at work,” said Gov. Camacho. “My office will work with lawmakers to develop an interim solution that will give GDOE more time to identify a third party and restore federal funds. In the meantime, I have issued an executive order that will secure funding for GDOE’s payroll for the next pay period.”
