Rota mayor asks Senate fiscal committee to fund staff, utilities and island projects

Rota Mayor Aubrey Hawcook told the Senate Fiscal Affairs Committee that her office needs funding to maintain personnel levels, cover utility costs and complete capital projects across the island.

At a budget hearing held in the Mayor's Office Conference Hall, Hawcook said the mayor's office is authorized 118 full‑time equivalents (FTEs), currently employs 108 and is carrying four unfunded FTEs; she asked the committee to fund the gap, estimating a shortage of about $68,209 including fringe benefits. "I humbly ask for the support of this body to provide that funding source for our next fiscal year's budget," Hawcook said.

The mayor framed the request as tied to ongoing recovery and development work on Rota: FEMA public‑assistance projects related to past typhoons remain under extension requests, the Office is pursuing solar power for the municipal office building and has active capital improvement project (CIP) requests for public safety and other infrastructure. Hawcook requested authority to keep and use revolving funds flexibly for day‑to‑day needs — fuel, communications and office supplies — saying that suspension of restrictions on those accounts has enabled local programs and that continued flexibility is needed "until we are able to find other sources of funding that can replace the stream of income."

Why it matters: the mayor said staffing and operational funding determine whether local departments can provide basic services — from street lighting and utility payments to maintenance of public facilities and law‑enforcement fuel. Senators asked detailed follow‑ups about FTE counts, whether vacant positions were routed for hiring, and whether the approved utility allotment was sufficient.

Details senators pressed for included: - Staffing: Hawcook confirmed 108 active employees, with four unfunded FTEs and six positions routed for filling; the mayor said some hires were skilled labor hired directly to avoid repeated bidding and to reduce costs. - Utilities and energy: Current utility support has been provided through central government assistance; the mayor said the office seeks a solar project to reduce building utility costs and has identified discrepancies with the utility billings that remain under review with the utility company. - Revolving accounts: Hawcook asked the committee to "allow flexibility and suspend all restrictions regarding all our revolving accounts" to let expenditure authorities use revolving funds for operational expenses. - Law enforcement support: The mayor asked the committee to consider using CIP and other funds to assist DPS and defense personnel with fuel, equipment and basic operational needs; she also said an MOU with DLNR and other central agencies is pending to assist resort maintenance and security.

Committee action: The hearing record shows the committee adopted the day's agenda earlier in the session (motion offered by Floor Leader Manglona and seconded by Legislative Secretary Cruz). No formal vote on the mayor's budget was taken during the Rota hearing; senators asked the mayor and resident department heads to submit additional follow‑up details to the committee and OMB.

Next steps: Senators told the mayor the committee would consider the requests when reconciling the House and Senate versions of the FY2026 appropriations and urged Rota officials to supply precise figures (for example, updated fuel and diesel estimates for maintenance of public assets) so the delegation and OMB can identify funding sources.