Guam public works seeks $22.4 million for FY2026; lawmakers press agency on staffing, village paving and abandoned vehicles

The Guam Legislature’s Committee on Finance and Government Operations on June 19 heard testimony on Bill 44-38 COR, the governor’s proposed appropriations measure that would fund the Department of Public Works’ (DPW) operations for fiscal year 2026. DPW Director Vince Areola told the committee the department’s total requested budget is $22.4 million, an increase of just under $500,000 from the prior year.

Why it matters: The hearing focused on whether DPW has the staff and procurement capacity to spend appropriated funds and deliver projects islandwide — from village-street paving to school-bus operations and stormwater work — and on how DPW will manage federal grants that require matching work or follow-up. Senators pressed DPW on recruitment and retention for technical trades, timelines for village paving and road repairs, and the logistics of abandoned-vehicle removal now assigned to DPW by law.

In his opening, Areola summarized DPW’s budget by major object class and outlined priorities across divisions. "DPW’s total budget request amounts to $22,400,000, an increase of just under $500,000 from last fiscal year," Areola said, citing salary and benefits as the largest share. He reported roughly $16 million in salaries and benefits, contractual services of about $3.2 million (including road paving), equipment at about $82,000 and capital outlay near $410,000.

Areola said DPW relies on two main funding sources for operations: the Territorial Educational Facilities Fund (TEF) — which funds bus operations — and the Guam Highway Fund, with supplemental general-fund support for other divisions. He told the…