Guam parks director frames FY2027 request as a 'performance contract,' seeks grant writer and measurable KPIs

Director Angel Sablan told the Guam Legislature's Committee on Land, Environment, Housing, Agriculture, Parks and Recreation and Infrastructure on March 10 that the Department of Parks and Recreation is transitioning its FY2027 budget to a performance‑based model and will submit a budget tied to measurable outcomes.

"Our FY 2027 budget when it is submitted, it is not just a request for funding. It is a commitment to a leaner, more responsive, and more accountable department," Sablan told senators. He asked the committee to fund a converted position — a program coordinator/planner or grant writer — to strengthen the department's ability to pursue federal grants and plan projects.

Why it matters: DPR operates more than 70 parks and facilities and faces recurring maintenance and safety issues. Sablan said shifting to performance‑based budgeting (PBB) will let the legislature see exactly how appropriations map to outcomes such as faster repairs, stronger patrol coverage and improved vendor fee capture.

Sablan outlined four pillars for FY2027: data‑driven performance management, public‑safety and resource protection, operational and fiscal accountability, and safety/compliance with federal standards. He gave several concrete targets DPR plans to include in its PBB submission: "The baseline is 22 minutes. We are targeting for 15 minutes," he said of territorial park ranger dispatch response time. He also said DPR will work to reduce average time from work order to repair from 14 days to five days and to raise facility utilization tracking across the department's park inventory.

Sablan said DPR has not had a dedicated grant writer or planner and has not captured federal grants (other than SHPO/National Park Service funds) since a previously noted applicant applied for funding. He asked the legislature and executive offices to support requests to Congress and the Guam State Clearinghouse to secure operating and position funding.

The director also asked for greater access to used equipment through General Services Administration channels and proposed memoranda of agreement with other agencies — including the Guam Visitors Bureau — to extend coverage at high‑traffic tourist sites during off hours.

Next steps: DPR's PBB materials are due to the legislature by April 17, 2026, and the committee invited written statements within seven days of the hearing. The committee adjourned the oversight session at 3:30 p.m.