Proposed Budget - Fiscal Year 2024
On January 31, Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero released her proposed budget for fiscal 2024. General fund revenues for fiscal 2024 are projected at $778.9 million, an increase of $65.7 million from fiscal 2023. Allocations from the general fund are projected to go to the following areas: Public Education (35 percent), Protection of Life and Property (17 percent), General Government (15 percent), Debt Service (11 percent), Reserve Departments (10 percent), Public Health (8 percent), and all others (4 percent). Special Fund revenues for fiscal 2024 are projected at $202.9 million, an increase of $3.4 million from fiscal 2023. Allocations from Special Fund revenues are projected to go to the following areas: General Government (30 percent), Public Health (25 percent), Public Education (18 percent), Reserve Departments (11 percent), Protection of Life and Property (9 percent), Debt Service (4 percent), and all others (3 percent). Federal Matching Funds for fiscal 2024 are projected at $143.6 million, an increase of $34.2 million from fiscal 2023. Allocations from Federal Matching Funds are projected to go to the following areas: Public Health (88 percent), Reserve Departments (3 percent), Public Education (3 percent), Protection of Life and Property (2 percent), and all others (4 percent). Total spending from all funds for fiscal 2024 is projected at $1.1 billion.
Proposed Budget Highlights
The governor’s proposed budget includes adjustments to the General Pay Plan, maintains the five percent Business Privilege Tax rate, and prioritizes investments in public health, public safety, and economic diversification. Recommendations include the following:
Public Education
- Appropriates $238.9 million to the Department of Education including funds for CHamoru studies; interscholastic sports, health and physical education activities; textbooks; grounds maintenance; and summer school.
- Directs $4.7 million to the University of Guam for scholarships and financial assistance programs; operation of the Aquaculture Development and Training Center; and the Hydrologic Survey and Water Resource Monitoring Program administered by the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific.
- Appropriates $500k to the University of Guam for the Guam Green Growth Initiative.
- Directs $6.5 million to Guam Community College for training programs including an apprenticeship program.
Protection of Life and Property
- Funds the statutorily mandated 40 Guam police officers, 20 correction officers for the Department of Corrections, 30 customs and quarantine recruits, and 20 new firefighters.
- Directs $620k to the Department of Youth Affairs to carry out Summer Employment and Training Programs for Youth.
- Appropriates $143k to the Guam Police Department for its Safe Schools Initiative.
General Government
- Directs funds to the Department of Administration for the following:
- $2.5 million for the Residential Treatment Fund.
- $586k to complete audit reports for the Government of Guam.
- $10.9 million for the Financial Information Management System Contract.
Public Health
- Appropriates funds to the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness center including:
- $2.66 million to fund drug and alcohol detoxification, rehabilitation, and prevention services programs.
- $2.01 million to fund inpatient services of drug and alcohol detoxification, rehabilitation, and prevention services programs.
- $285k to fund the Youth Mental Health First Aid Program.
- Directs funds to the Department of Public Health and Social Services including:
- $5.62 million for the Medically Indigent Program Payment Revolving Fund.
- $129.9 million for the Medicaid program ($22.26 million for the local matching requirement and $107.6 million from Federal Matching Funds).
- $665k to pay for insurance premiums for foster children.
- $1.23 million to fund the Child Protective Services Program.
Other
- Appropriates $6.26 million to the Supplemental Annuity Benefits Special Fund for direct payments to Government of Guam retirees who retired prior to October 1, 1995, or their survivors.
- Appropriates $4.72 million to pay for the cost of Medicare premiums for eligible retirees.
- Appropriates $35.9 million to pay for health, dental, and life insurance of Government of Guam retirees.
- Appropriates $16.3 million to provide a Cost-of-living allowance in the form of a single lump sum payment of $2,200 to each retiree of the Government of Guam Retirement Fund who is retired as of September 30, 2023, or their survivors