The Committee of the Whole of the Guam Legislature approved two related budget changes for the Guam Department of Education (GDOE) on Saturday: (1) an amendment that allocates $10,000,000 out of GDOE’s existing $266,000,000 appropriation specifically for school facilities maintenance, school facilities staff and repairs; and (2) a companion amendment that directs leftover lapse funds used to bridge American Rescue Plan (ARP) reimbursements to remain available and, after ARP liquidation, to be used to refurbish school sports facilities and playgrounds.

Why it matters: Lawmakers said the moves aim to protect progress GDOE reported this year on facilities and to ensure money already appropriated is set aside for maintenance and for projects tied to ARP reimbursement timelines. Multiple senators warned the carve-outs could limit GDOE’s flexibility to cover other urgent needs, including substitute teachers, aides and other personnel.

Most important facts: Senator Vince Borja, the amendment’s author, told colleagues the intent was to ensure a fixed $10,000,000 of the department’s appropriation is reserved for maintenance and repairs. He said the allotment is not new money — it is an allocation out of the $266,000,000 substitute appropriation for GDOE. Senator Chris Barnett offered language clarifying that "notwithstanding any other provision of law, the sum of $10,000,000 is hereby allocated out of" section 1, part 1, chapter 2 of the act; Barnett explained the change as a clarification that the $10 million is an allocation rather than an additional appropriation.

Debate and concerns: Supporters said the allocation preserves recent progress at schools and helps sustain in-house facilities teams (electricians, plumbers, carpenters) that the department rebuilt after earlier staffing shortfalls. Senator Borja and others said roughly $5,000,000 of the $10,000,000 was expected to cover personnel (facilities staff) and the other $5,000,000 for supplies and capital-type repairs; the sponsor said DOE had provided a list of priority projects (including elevator work) that would cost about $5,000,000. Opponents cautioned that this ties up funds GDOE currently uses to manage urgent items (substitute teachers, special-education aides, school lunches and other operating needs). Senator Perez and others argued that because the $10,000,000 comes from existing GDOE funds, the department may need to cut or re-prioritize other projects or positions to meet the allocation.

ARP reimbursement and continuing appropriation: The Committee also approved a related amendment (proffered by Senator Borja) creating a continuing-appropriation mechanism for certain lapse funds GDOE uses to advance ARP-funded projects. Borja explained the change would allow GDOE to use locally available lapse funds to pay ARP-related invoices now and to retain any leftover balance after ARP liquidation for refurbishing or upgrading school sports facilities and playgrounds. The sponsor and witnesses noted the federal ARP reimbursement liquidation deadline is March 2026; Borja said on the record, "The ARP money, they have the late liquidation date is March 2026." Several senators supported holding some lapses for ARP reimbursement turnaround; others said specifying sports facilities and playgrounds as the post‑ARP use could divert funds from incomplete ARP projects or critical operating needs if reimbursements fail to materialize.

Votes and outcomes: The allocation amendment (the $10,000,000 language specifying "school facilities maintenance, school facilities staff, and repairs") was adopted by the Committee. The continuing-appropriation amendment that sets lapse funds aside to pay ARP-related invoices and then directs remaining funds toward sports facilities and playgrounds passed on a recorded voice/hand count in committee (the sponsor announced the final Borja amendment passed by a hand-count; the committee reported the final Borja amendment passed by a hand count of eight in favor in the floor exchange recorded at the end of the transcript).

Context and next steps: Senators noted GDOE testified to the Committee about procurement delays and reimbursement timing and that some projects were already incurring costs the department expects to recover from ARP. Opponents urged the Board of Education and GDOE leadership to finalize plans and procurement schedules so the committee’s actions would not lead to unintended contract-payment or project-completion issues. The Committee recessed to continue work on the broader budget after adopting the amendments.

Ending: The Committee of the Whole adopted the two amendments and recessed to resume work later in the day; supporters said the measures protect recent facility gains, while critics warned the restrictions could force trade-offs in personnel and other operating areas if reimbursements or additional funding do not arrive.