Lawmakers weigh calls for 22% general GovGuam pay raise

Feb. 27, 2023

Joe Taitano II

Pacific Daily News

A score of government of Guam employees came to the Legislature on Monday to advocate for a proposed 22% general pay raise, but some lawmakers are skeptical about GovGuam’s ability to keep up with the increased cost.

Things are tough for GovGuam employees on the low end of the pay scale, who make ends meet without the help of public assistance, said Department of Agriculture Employee Robert Alexander.

Both he and his wife work two jobs to support their children, he said, and his two oldest sons have also gone out to work.

“Inflation, it’s really taken its toll. My entire pay goes on to bills — my government pay. My other pay, I’m able to just buy food, mostly,” he said, tearing up as he testified.

“I’d like you to think of the ramifications,” Alexander told said lawmakers. “If there is no pay raise, a lot of people will leave. People are leaving, they’ve been leaving. I will leave if I have to. I’m willing to leave, because I want to raise strong children.”

Alexander’s statements capped off a chorus of testimony from GovGuam employees and agency heads about the difficulty of retaining public servants when many are fighting to keep up with the cost of living.

The Leon Guerrero administration has proposed a 22% pay raise for employees under the general pay plan, who have not seen a pay adjustment since 2014. Bill 24 would set aside $16 million to cover the cost of the raises through the end of the current fiscal year in September.

Annual costs moving forward for the roughly 3,500 employees covered will be about $42 million a year, according to Director of Administration Ed Birn.

Some portion of that cost will be picked up by federal funding, he said, which usually covers around a third of GovGuam’s employment costs.

“There is never a right time. There is a time when the fiscal position supports it. And that is now — revenues are rising, not falling,” said Birn.