Finance committee hears status-quo FY2026 budget request for Department of Revenue and Taxation

The Committee on Finance and Government Operations held a public hearing June 18 on Bill No. 44-38 COR, the governor-requested appropriation bill for operations of the executive branch for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2026. Department of Revenue and Taxation Director Marie Lizama told the committee her agency is presenting a status-quo request while noting staffing gaps and ongoing modernization needs.

Lizama said the department's funding request for FY2026 is the same as FY2025 and asked that “a provision for DRT to use any unexpended FY 2025 funds be included in the budget law.” She outlined recent agency work — reduction of limited-term appointments to 16, an internship agreement with the University of Guam College of Business and Public Administration, and continuing efforts to issue tax refunds within an average of six weeks from filing.

Why it matters: senators pressed Lizama on areas where DRT says it lacks capacity. The Business Privilege Tax (BPT) branch, which the department described as chronically understaffed, was a central topic. Lizama said the BPT branch currently has only two full‑time employees and is supplemented by staff from other branches.…