[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},"mediaId",6502077,"mediaKeyId","5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14","parentId",5591672,"title","Senators question Guam Commission for Educator Certification funding; agency seeks higher FY26 allocation","audioSeconds",1636,"startMs",6373000,"endMs",8009000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14&start=6373&end=8009","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14/thumbnail_6373000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6502077/Senators-question-Guam-Commission-for-Educator-Certification-funding-agency-seeks-higher-FY26-allocation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502077-2ad69cf138f576a700e83faa7e39e7a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390755&Signature=gU4S6rRYWCSeq2IV~9-rspIibn10cAQn2~LIC6j0uWcb1i29utcUXLP3NGjEo~am7O6GhIhLhsG~-RsdMXAWcZdNRlRTRU3iWDN8wzAeolGzv~cHW0~~GNmG6-by4bKI-Q8jKk66gr2EaAqivqjtQohVuwePuewTdl0CzATnohjBTmT45tmTW97z4Mvs4HbYy4pOhhbFvDMyazlaNPPHq378eTsKAhFbxqi523pXUvqp-WaDqKLT7iPnQixTg4q8mq0CqNXUx13QpaFkKz5s-b3x2Zl2nPOPnCmA7m2dawiYTwoANhA2L1kiwzR4NklyJ2IX3d5Ptbdo9irvZ6g51g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Guam Legislature","date","2025-08-17T10:57:22Z","article","The Committee of the Whole considered the FY2026 appropriation for the Guam Commission for Educator Certification (GCEC) and several senators raised concerns that the commission’s request was higher than the status‑quo amount included in the bill.

OFB reported the GCEC appropriation for FY26 is $296,271 and that the appropriation is drawn from the Guam Educational Facilities Fund. Senators noted a letter from GCEC director Dr. Michelle Santos requesting $372,401 to fund desired staff levels and the new executive director. Senator Barnett read the commission’s letter into the record and said the commission had described the appropriation as critical to maintaining educator certification standards.

OFB staff said there is no statutorily required percentage of the Guam Educational Facilities Fund that must go to any single entity; appropriations are set by the Legislature. OFB also said special‑revenue tracking shows the education facilities fund is currently tracking below the prior estimate (the fund was tracking at roughly $33.7M compared with the $35.9M estimate), which informed the conservative appropriation level.

Senators discussed the possibility of addressing a small gap through miscellaneous appropriations if the commission’s request is deemed necessary; Senator Borja suggested internal adjustments or a later miscellaneous appropriation could be used to cover the shortfall. Senators also noted that rev and tax revaluation activity may change real property tax collections that feed the education facilities fund and that mid‑year adjustments might be possible if revenues increase.

Ending: Committee members asked OFB and staff to review the commission’s request and consider whether the small funding gap could be addressed in a later amendment or in miscellaneous appropriations; no amendment was adopted during this session.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","38th Guam Legislature FY2026 Budget Session - August 17, 2025 PM PT.1","oneSentenceSummary","Lawmakers queried OFB about the Guam Commission for Educator Certification’s FY26 status‑quo appropriation of $296,271 from the Guam Educational Facilities Fund; the commission had requested $372,401 and warned staffing and newly hired executive‑director costs may not be covered by status‑quo funding.","taxTitle","General Government Operations and Appropriations\t, Legislative, Guam","taxId",18139,"location","","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502082,"Legislature boosts Guam Cancer Trust Fund; amendment adds $583,000 to FY26 appropriation",1616,4341000,5957000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14&start=4341&end=5957","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14/thumbnail_4341000.jpg","/articles/6502082/Legislature-boosts-Guam-Cancer-Trust-Fund-amendment-adds-583000-to-FY26-appropriation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502082-c0689279433928e8f8fab6ee03f17c1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390755&Signature=VLFghi7YX-LxlqFsvKrWClS-uyDF0imkosYRxszkyzxzeZ3OfeqWNzAP8NWoNLtf6T6Fyla13F4y8ONYISeUR6IkO3UQZGaEdfeGcV0sDNKK9Y9Z07Dtorq7m462LL4vCZMoAUYI74U1Mb6mnGgoQr27JUfPsDVGJf7Seq9ixdKNkYzLCz1OPJDPvz3ZE~vxVW6wskRyce4tw3r2IPT7fMyTURvW4mL4S4YBAZpbG5ow9andG6wIGufL-GyDIYya~6b7KuTSP-wfu0~bO~v4OQouLxmEWPhKjEI8s1pnnRCJU8FruQdOP5p3PRPbFmtVUyO6X4rEIDzIKqVdE7qxxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee of the Whole approved an amendment to increase funding for the Guam Cancer Trust Fund for FY26, using FY25 unobligated general‑fund revenues. Senator Tidalgoi (author) proposed a $500,000 amendment to raise the Trust Fund’s allocation, and Senator Perez offered an amendment to the amendment to add $83,000—bringing the total increase to $583,000—to reach the statutory 15 percent formula amount calculated for FY26.

Senator Tidalgoi, the amendment’s sponsor, framed the issue as a public‑health and humanitarian priority and described personal experience with cancer in urging colleagues to support higher funding. \"We should not have to beg for compliance with the law designed to protect the health of our people,\" the senator said during floor remarks. Multiple senators spoke in favor; supporters cited past shortfalls and the practical uses of the Trust Fund for travel, medication, stipends and other patient support services.

OFB staff confirmed the amendment would draw from the estimated FY25 unobligated general fund balance; the sponsor said the general fund balance available after prior adjustments was sufficient to cover the amendment. Several senators spoke in support, noting the fund’s prior supplemental increases and the community impact of cancer services. The amendment to the amendment (Senator Perez’s $83,000 addition) passed without recorded opposition, and the main amendment (the $500,000 increase, as amended) also carried on the floor; the clerk announced the amendment had been approved and the committee moved on.

Action details: The main amendment increased the Guam Cancer Trust Fund by $500,000; an amendment to that amendment added $83,000 to reach $583,000. The amendments were presented as adjustments drawn from FY25 general‑fund balances and were adopted on the floor. Specific roll‑call tallies were not read into the record during the session.

Ending: The committee endorsed the supplemental funding increase for the Guam Cancer Trust Fund, bringing the FY26 appropriation closer to the statutory formula amount; lawmakers urged continued efforts to fully align appropriations with the Healthy Futures Fund formula over time.","An amendment to the budget allocating additional FY25 unobligated general‑fund revenue increased the Guam Cancer Trust Fund by $583,000 (a $500,000 amendment plus an $83,000 amendment to the amendment); the measures passed on the floor after debate and personal testimony.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502087,"University of Guam appropriation includes FY25 supplemental; cultural repository moved to Department of Tomorrow Affairs",1993,2336000,4329000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14&start=2336&end=4329","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14/thumbnail_2336000.jpg","/articles/6502087/University-of-Guam-appropriation-includes-FY25-supplemental-cultural-repository-moved-to-Department-of-Tomorrow-Affairs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502087-b382af3efbd5b26537924a46c3e950c5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390755&Signature=HRTrNrPD1pHK3paWuH~zbAAVZ8Dl55N44m96UIUgStOchJhflDo9dn4KjLv6QFMHjJ87Y990LQsaGNMcDK~h5lbZt-iP1fk8tKJus96ILKDWZx1PYLpa4RqLyPGFljvEJ~uBmxem-g~7gCwceaJIy7f0clOfBkhn8w00LFwS1NJeGdqxM769BdW6vlc8G0ERRS1AWVvoXyTiQGyEtcvq3Si~5xfLxn1Bxh7ioK4JL30k4ks5psw1t1EX3raFdkPY9nvLw0N~3Q3dU5hYoTS81E-DQ9O4weYrSxZncaCH-flMDP4IKs0PXxE8PgFGsj47mN1qdV5VIAqF9CfD8X2AnQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee of the Whole reviewed the FY2026 appropriation for the University of Guam (UOG), and Office of Finance and Budget Director Steven Guerrero said the FY26 total includes a $5.7 million supplemental that UOG received in FY25.

\"Their level is inclusive of that 5.7,\" Guerrero said. OFB staff explained that once a supplemental is included in the adopted budget baseline it effectively becomes a fixed cost for the entity in subsequent years unless the committee chooses to remove it.

Committee members raised several issues. Senators asked whether the $1.6 million cultural repository (the Guam Cultural Repository) remains with UOG or transfers to the Department of Tomorrow Affairs (DTA). Guerrero confirmed the repository program was funded at $1.6 million in the executive budget request and the governor requested the program and funds be transferred from UOG to DTA; the bill reflects that transfer and the funding appears in DTA's chapter. Guerrero said the FY25 UOG baseline used for FY26 calculations did not include the floor amendment that had previously moved $1.6 million to the repository, which explains why the repository appears as an additional line in DTA for FY26 rather than a subtraction from UOG's FY25 base.

Senators also questioned Healthy Futures Fund allocations, which direct a statutory share to the Guam Cancer Trust Fund. Guerrero said the FY26 proposal keeps the Guam Cancer Trust Fund at $3,000,000 (the same level the committee set in the recent budget process) even though the statute calls for 15 percent of the Healthy Futures Fund to go to the trust. Guerrero and other OFB staff explained the Healthy Futures Fund collections have not tracked to the statutory 15 percent level; OFB said appropriations from that fund were set conservatively given current revenue tracking. Senators asked which agencies receive the larger shares; OFB named behavioral health agencies and Guam Memorial Hospital among the larger Healthy Futures recipients.

Committee members also pressed for clarity about UOG capital obligations. OFB noted appropriations in the bill for UOG debt service and leaseback payments, including $1.5 million for a leaseback CIP and $500,000 for debt service related to specific UOG buildings.

Ending: The committee accepted OFB’s explanation of the UOG FY26 baseline and noted the repository program is placed under DTA with a $1.6 million appropriation; members requested further review of special fund tracking (education facilities and Healthy Futures) and noted the FY25 supplemental is embedded in the FY26 baseline.","OFB reported the FY2026 University of Guam appropriation embeds a $5.7 million FY25 supplemental; the budget moves a $1.6 million cultural repository line from UOG to the Department of Tomorrow Affairs (DTA). Senators questioned tracking of the repository and Healthy Futures Fund allocations.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":72,"_74":72},6502092,"Committee holds charter school funding at FY25 levels; supplemental treated as part of new baseline",1551,737000,2288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14&start=737&end=2288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5591672-4fa9919e119564508b095ad19de3fd14/thumbnail_737000.jpg","/articles/6502092/Committee-holds-charter-school-funding-at-FY25-levels-supplemental-treated-as-part-of-new-baseline","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6502092-ae6df903242d4be86e86821f27f22fb2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770390755&Signature=j30YzW9C2tHTPzZ-d38hoVQBZ2rcy-cGxR6zv0ELphMt~o7qvg4vZ1itoRvGRKvXcmfh96WPZoLM627CHvfGjM43rm1enfu9c8Uu4JzbcArrR2Pfm5-wKt4NRJZp212wpYa7wPLaYD9EtXwIH4F4gXloInKC7WcHQEUo1QgumYEimOwK7SmS7t5IYsRhbEbxn0~4qeE9wClPjVlVThwNnXGIzGW01mve3HCQcC46p48gWUU6uSJc1i2FeN868LUR21loyOvlTQy0VBh7a7hiES5sp5LCbQdnUkoFp6-jNbBF7Er6uNXFyHcsCcHfGqcMrNlYdLgfxrvijnabPy31Cw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Committee of the Whole reviewed FY2026 funding for the seven Guam charter academies and left their appropriations at the FY2025 level, Office of Finance and Budget Director Steven Guerrero said, noting that the FY25 supplemental was incorporated into the FY26 baseline.

The funding decision affects the same seven charter schools funded in FY25. \"We basically gave them a status quo level to their FY '25 appropriation,\" Guerrero told the committee, adding that the FY25 supplemental was included in the FY26 line so the agencies’ new budgets incorporate that one‑time funding.

Committee members pressed OFB on whether student populations had changed and whether any schools had requested higher enrollment caps. Senator Joseph Augustine asked for confirmation that the appropriation assumed no enrollment increase; Guerrero and staff answered that the FY26 allocation preserves the FY25 enrollment assumptions. Senator Borja said the charter council had asked the Legislature to consider increases in student caps, but was advised there was no additional funding identified to accommodate such increases.

Senators also questioned how the appropriations are disbursed. Guerrero said the Department of Administration (DOA) releases charter appropriation funds based on monthly enrollment and verifies invoices; \"DOA . . . releases their appropriation based on their enrollment,\" he said. Committee members noted DOA’s role in vetting invoices and releasing funds to charters, and asked whether unpaid vendor invoices would surface to the Legislature; OFB said invoice verification and disbursement processes are managed by DOA and DOE as appropriate.

Committee members discussed the charter council’s administrative funding. Guerrero said the appropriation is made by charter school and is appropriated in lump sum; the council determines internal allocations and the council has discretion to allocate funds for administrative costs. Senators noted earlier supplemental funding of roughly $88,000 had been provided in prior sessions to help the council with oversight duties.

Multiple senators said they remain supportive of charter schools but emphasized fiscal oversight. The committee recessed after completing questions on the charter school part of the budget.

Ending: The Committee kept the charter school appropriation at the FY25 level (with FY25 supplemental embedded in FY26 baseline) and did not adopt any enrollment cap increases during this session. Further oversight questions were directed to DOA and the charter schools council for follow‑up.","The Committee of the Whole reviewed FY2026 appropriations for Guam’s seven charter academies and kept funding at the FY2025 level, including last year’s supplemental, while rejecting new student cap increases due to no identified new funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Senators question Guam Commission for Educator Certification funding; agency seeks higher FY26 allocation

Legislature boosts Guam Cancer Trust Fund; amendment adds $583,000 to FY26 appropriation

University of Guam appropriation includes FY25 supplemental; cultural repository moved to Department of Tomorrow Affairs

Committee holds charter school funding at FY25 levels; supplemental treated as part of new baseline