He suggests Adelup's $145 shortfall projection is undercut by term end spending on hiring and pay hikes
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Senator Frank Blas Aguon, Jr. has asked Speaker Benjamin J.F. Cruz to consider a 6-month budget for FY 2019.
“For the first 6-months of this year, this administration has hidden money under the mattress, inside shoe boxes, inside the drawers, and at the very last minute, miraculously has the funding to cover millions in personnel hiring and pay increases; off-island trips and jaw dropping executive security overtime and travel costs,” Senator Aguon said.
Senator Aguon cited these examples in a letter to Speaker Cruz to illustrate the administration’s refusal to reveal a true picture of the government’s financial picture. Considering this lack of transparency and current estimates of a $145 million shortfall, Senator Aguon is urging the 34th Guam Legislature to proceed with caution as the severity of consequences on government operations could be devastating should today’s calculations be wrong.
“Until Adelup shows us the money and more accurate numbers on collections, available cash and other accounts from all sources become more clear, I believe it’s crucial for us to proceed as conservatively as possible,” Senator Aguon said. “This is the reason I am proposing that this body pass a budget based on a 6-month projection of calculations that would:
Pressure the administration to provide the legislature a true and accurate accounting of all monies on-hand;
Pressure the administration to utilize the authorization granted to Public Law 34-87 to establish the top priorities of this government through reorganization and privatization; and
Provide this body, as well as the 35th Guam Legislature with a greater opportunity to fine-tune longer term budget projections without significant harm to the services and operations of government agencies that a full fiscal year budget projection made today might bring.
Additionally, I believe it most prudent for the government of Guam, while in its current financial state, to operate within the parameters of a more immediate financial picture should the transition of a new administration reveal vital information – positive or negative – that may drastically affect the overall health of government services and our economy as a whole,” said Aguon.