Proposed Budget - Fiscal Year 2025
On February 5, Guam Governor Lourdes A. Leon Guerrero released her proposed budget for fiscal 2025. General fund revenues for fiscal 2025 are projected at $860 million. Allocations from the general fund are projected to go to the following areas: Public Education (35 percent), Protection of Life and Property (18 percent), General Government (15 percent), Debt Service (10 percent), Reserve Departments (10 percent), Public Health (9 percent), and all others (3 percent). Special Fund revenues for fiscal 2025 are projected at $214 million. Allocations from Special Fund revenues are projected to go to the following areas: General Government (29 percent), Public Health (24 percent), Public Education (19 percent), Reserve Departments (12 percent), Protection of Life and Property (8 percent), Debt Service (4 percent), and all others (4 percent). Federal Matching Funds for fiscal 2025 are projected at $190 million. Allocations from Federal Matching Funds are projected to go to the following areas: Public Health (86 percent), Reserve Departments (4 percent), Public Education (5 percent), Protection of Life and Property (2 percent), and all others (7 percent). Total spending from all funds for fiscal 2025 is projected at $1.26 billion.
Proposed Budget Highlights
The governor’s proposed budget prioritizes fiscal responsibility and addresses the needs of the people of Guam. Recommendations include the following:
Public Education
- Appropriates $255.1 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 $4.9 million to the University of Guam for scholarship and financial assistance programs; operation of the aquaculture and training center; and the Hydrologic Survey and Water Resource Monitoring Program administered by the Water and Environmental Research Institute of the Western Pacific.
- Provides $10.3 million to Guam Community College for the Licensed Practical Nursing and Vocational Guidance program, the Lodging Management/ProStart program, and an apprenticeship program.
Protection of Life and Property
- Directs $3.65 million to the Department of Corrections to pay the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority for providing health services to inmates.
- Provides funding for 20 police officer trainees, 20 correction officer recruits for the Department of Corrections, 10 custom and quarantine recruits, and 20 new firefighters.
- Allocates $2.6 million to the Department of Youth Affairs to carry out summer employment and training programs for youth.
- Directs $143k to the Guam Police Department for its Safe Schools Initiative.
General Government
- Provides 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.
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 fund to the Department of Public Health and Social Services including:
- $169.2 million for the Medicaid program ($26.27 million for the local matching requirement and $142.97 million from Federal Matching Funds).
- $2.36 million to pay for insurance premiums for foster children.
- $2.22 million to fund the Child Protective Services Program.
Other
- Continues the Gas Tax Relief for the entirety of fiscal 2025.
- Allocates $5.66 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.
- Directs $5.47 million to pay for the cost of Medicare premiums for eligible retirees.
- Provides $39.93 million to pay for health, dental, and life insurance for the Government of Guam retirees.
- Appropriates $17.2 million to provide a cost-of-living allowance in the form of a single lump sum payment of $2,300 to each retiree of the Government of Guam Retirement Fund who is retired as of September 30, 2024, or their survivors.