Sen. Parkinson: Why are the taxpayers still funding an agency that no longer has a purpose?
By Pacific Island Times News Staff
The Hagåtña Restoration and Redevelopment Authority, which was created to develop a master plan for Guam’s capital village, completed its mandated tasks two years ago, and at this juncture, it no longer has a purpose, according to Sen. William Parkinson.
Yet, the government of Guam continues to fund the agency, which currently has two staff members, one earning $95,481 and the other, $93,195 in annual salary and benefits.
Established in 1997, the HRRA submitted the complete master plan to the legislature in 2022. The document is currently awaiting an approval stamp from the 37th Guam Legislature.
“The decision before the legislature now is whether we move forward with that plan. Until that decision is made, there is no justification for maintaining this agency as it currently exists,” Parkinson said.
He noted that the HRRA has spent $1.34 million in taxpayer funds for consultants to create the master plan, which includes projects that are estimated to cost half a billion dollars.
“What is the point of this agency now?” Parkinson said.
The HRRA is requesting a budget of $443,589 for fiscal 2025, representing an increase of more than $34,000 from its current budget of $$409,496. Records showed the agency had a total of $272,661 in expenditures and encumbrances.
Lola Leon Guerrero, director of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans, is currently acting as the HRRA’s executive director. The current staff includes Tammy Lynn D. Amuan, program coordinator, and Remy Suva, administrative officer.
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In its new budget request, the agency is proposing the creation of another position for a program coordinator.
Parkinson noted that additional hires, including an executive director, would entail $131,027 a year in additional personnel costs.
However, the senator questioned the justification for allocating additional resources to HRRA, whose functions he said could now be consolidated with the Bureau of Statistics and Plans.
Parkinson noted that the HRRA’s current budget request listed questionable items, including “approval of the Hagatna master plan,” a project that has already been completed.
The list also includes the formation of subcommittees to prioritize implementation projects, but “no progress has been reported.”
There is also a proposal to build a governor's palace, a project that "remains in the conceptual phase, with no clear timeline for execution since the master plan remains unapproved."
The HRRA is also seeking the "completion of a new zoning code for Hagåtña," a plan that has neither been finalized nor approved.
Parkinson said the agency has not accomplished any of the goals stated in its 2024 budget.
"It begs the question—why are we continuing to fund an agency that has no function until a Hagåtña master plan is approved?” he asked.
“At a time when our public schools are struggling to complete necessary maintenance and repairs and when we have individuals with disabilities that are not getting the services they need, to me, it is indefensible to continue funding an agency that has no clear purpose or direction,” Parkinson said.
“We need to make a decision—either we commit to the Hagåtña project and give it the resources it needs, or we admit that it’s not viable and redirect our efforts to more pressing concerns. But until that decision is made, it makes no sense to maintain this agency in its current form, much less hire even more personnel," he added.
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