Government holidays, need for GMH funding raised during budget hearings

For More: After Loss of Accreditation, GMH Prepares for a Loss Possible Medicare Financing

Legislators have heard testimony on two versions of the budget: Bill 237, which calls for a reduction in tax expenditures. The lower budget cuts, but requires a permanent increase in the tax on business privilege, from 4% to 5.5%.

Lester Carlson, deputy director of the Office of Budget Management and Research, said layoffs would be needed.

Gov. The director of the department of administration, Edward Birn, said that the chairman of the board of directors of Eddie Calvo

announced two credit bills,

President Benjamin Cruz D-Tumon has announced two new credit bills. Here's one to give the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority, or $ 5 million, so that she can develop a corrective action plan to prevent it from happening. lose your Medicare certification. The money would come from the $ 33 million that GovGuam expects to collect from its tax amnesty program.

The second bill would give $ 1 million in tax amnesties to the Guam Department of Education so that he could plan and design a new Simon Sanchez. PeterJohn Camacho, director of GMH, told senators Thursday that the legislature's decision to repeal a new sales tax, which was supposed to help subsidize the hospital, means that GMH has lost it's asked the Senators support Bill 323, which increases the tax on corporate privilege, because part of this tax increase will be used to improve the capital assets needed to maintain hospitality. l & # 39; insurance. certification

For more information: Budget cuts from $ 145 million to $ 153 million to include the hiring freeze, no mobile phone financing

know more: GovGuam Gives $ 70 Million in Annual Tax Exemptions

"This is a critical funding that GMHA needs to be able to continue to meet the terms of participation in the plan. health insurance, "Camacho told the senators. Camacho said that re-accreditation is "at hand if we have a dedicated funding source to plan the short-term and long-term needs of the hospital to ensure continued compliance and supported. "

Judicial Cost Reduction Measures

Chief Justice Katherine Maraman explained the cost reduction measures that the justice system would take if its budget was reduced by $ 5 million, including: dismissal at least 47 employees; close drug treatment courts and the Office of the Public Guardian; reduce other judicial services; close the Northern Court Satellite;

"We will freeze all vacant positions, the purchase of drug kits, ammunition and supplies, and admission counters at the clerk's offices and at the Probation Services division will continue to close at 4 pm or earlier. ] Marilyn Manibusan of the Guahan Academy Charter School asked senators to provide a credit of 2019 for the 740 students of the Guahan Academy

The Public Defender Service Corp. asked the Legislative Assembly to provide specific funding for the office.

FestPac totems used as benches