HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — While the Guam Department of Education has $123.8 million left in funds from the American Rescue Plan Act, Education Stabilization Fund money is exhausted and money from the Limited Gaming Fund has yet to be spent.
During the Education Financial Supervisory Council meeting on Thursday, GDOE Deputy Superintendent of Finance Joann Camacho reported that out of the $239,427,921 in ARPA funds received, $13,333,159.13 were encumbered and $69,528,389.64 were in requisitions, leaving $123,873,723.96 available, but that available balance is anticipated to decrease from last month.
“I believe so, because we got some contracts,” Camacho said. “There’s a couple of contracts that we are waiting to get approved by the attorney general that should drive the contractual up.”
Under the ESF II program, Camacho reported that the budget was $110,563,287; actual expenditures $105,461,053.85 and encumbrances at $5,272,061.01. She said there is no more funding available under ESF II.
“It shows a negative available, but what we did is we carried that over to ARP, so it’s a wash, so we spent the money,” Camacho reported. “It’s all moved to ARP.”
GDOE has until September 2024 to allocate the remaining funds.
Under the Limited Gaming Fund, Camacho reported a balance of $1,247,997.11, however, Bill Taitingfong from the Bureau of Budget and Management Research corrected the deputy, noting that the balance she reported was for expenditures.
He clarified that $1.7 million was available in the Limited Gaming Fund and he wanted to know how that money would be spent.
“The past few meetings we always ask the same questions because we’re not seeing any expenditures in the last couple of years, so we’re thinking that you are saving it for some sort of big project, so we are wanting to know what your plans are for that $1.7 (million),” Taitingfong said.
“We’re working with the team to spend the money,” Camacho said.
She further noted the funds were going to cover sports-related capital improvement projects.
“I know that we still have the football field that we need to work on, and finish (George Washington High School) inside the gym. But I will follow up again,” Camacho said.
The Guam Department of Education Headquarters sign in Tiyan, Barrigada, is seen on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024.
