UOG students present formula-based FY2026 village budget to Mayor’s Council of Guam

University of Guam public administration students presented a formula-based FY2026 village budget to the Mayor’s Council of Guam, arguing the method would make allocations more transparent, need‑based and easier to justify to the Legislature.

Mark Torian and Jason Young, members of the UOG PA 480 capstone team, told mayors the plan links specific funding categories — village operations, road maintenance, public safety, cultural preservation, community enhancement and an environmental impact fund — to dependable revenue sources such as the general fund, the limited gaming fund and the Guam Educational Facilities Fund. "A formula based budget is going to allow you guys to spend less time going through the motions and arguing and figuring out the little things," Jason Young said during the presentation.

The students described baseline allocations plus proportional adjustments for village population, road mileage and asset counts (parks, historic sites) and offered side‑by‑side sample allocations for smaller and larger villages. They said the approach preserves priorities as revenues change because figures update by plugging current revenue into the formulas. The team offered each mayor a draft spreadsheet containing the calculations and the underlying formulas.

Mayors praised the approach as a tool to support requests to the Guam Legislature but pressed for clarity on staffing and legal constraints. An online mayor asked whether the plan allows individual mayors to increase staff or create tiered salaries. Presenters and council leaders said the plan provides flexibility in how a village spends its allocated pool, but any statutory limits on authorized staffing levels would need to be addressed through the Mayor’s Council and, if required, the Legislature or bylaw changes. Executive Director Georgine Arceo said staff and council leadership will work on necessary clarifications in the coming months.

Presenters also flagged that some numeric lines in the live slides were difficult to read and provided to mayors as spreadsheets for later review. Mayor Robert Hoffman was recognized by the class for his prior work on the budget tool used as the basis for the capstone.

Next steps: the students will share detailed spreadsheets with each mayor and the Mayor’s Council indicated it will consider the proposal as part of its legislative packet to the 38th Guam Legislature. The presenters urged mayors to brief senators directly and suggested the council convene a work session to consolidate ideas for any proposed statutory changes.

The presentation concluded with applause, a group photo and offers for the students to return for follow‑up discussions.