Office of Finance and Budget
2 GCA LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
CH. 13 OFFICE OF FINANCE AND BUDGET
CHAPTER 13
OFFICE OF FINANCE AND BUDGET
SOURCE: This entire chapter, unless otherwise noted, was added by P.L. 29-002:VI:29
(May 18, 2007).
§ 13101. Legislative Findings and Intent.
§ 13102. Creation of Office.
§ 13103. Budget of Office.
§ 13104. Purpose of Office.
§ 13105. Administration of Office.
§ 13106. Duties of Office.
§ 13107. Special Accounting Service.
§ 13108. Special Economic Service.
§ 13109. Executive Branch Accounting, Financial, and
Economic Services.
§ 13101. Legislative Findings and Intent.
I Liheslaturan Guåhan recognizes the need for the independent forecasting of government revenues, with the minimum goal of adopting the best econometric model for the government of Guam. There is a need to compile and provide to I Liheslaturan Guåhan, I Maga’lahen Guåhan and the public, forecasts of revenues no less than five (5) years immediately beyond the operating budget year; expenditure information no less than five (5) years past; consistent year-by-year analysis of the impact of federal expenditures on Guam's economy and employment; and information related to the formulation of short and long-term fiscal policy. Future fiscal policy must be consistent with government reorganization, performance-based budgeting, measurable program goals and transparency. The present relationship between traditional and performance-based budgeting is crucial to our fiscal maturity, a goal that requires improved articulation and standards to measure goal-driven objectives and practical technological applications in budget formulation. I Liheslaturan Guåhan, therefore, hereby creates the Office of Finance and Budget (“OFB”) to renew fiscal discipline through the practice of open government, cooperation between the legislative and executive branches, and the assignment of fiscal responsibility to appropriate government entities and officials, all to promote public confidence and government efficiency.
§ 13102. Creation of Office.
There is hereby created, within I Liheslaturan Guåhan, under the supervision of the Committee on Ways and Means, or equivalent Standing Committee, the Office of Finance and Budget (“OFB”), organized and operating as I Liheslaturan Guåhan may from time to time provide through its Standing Rules.
§ 13103. Budget of Office.
The budget of the OFB shall not be included as part of I Liheslaturan Guåhan’s annual operating budget.
§ 13104. Purpose of Office.
The OFB shall administer this Chapter and perform the responsibilities assigned to it by law and the Standing Rules. It shall coordinate and gather information relevant to government revenue projections, fiscal policy, legislative appropriations, taxation, revenue collection, government expenditures, general fund revenues, and special fund revenues.
§ 13105. Administration of Office.
The Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, or equivalent Standing Committee, shall appoint a Director who shall administer the OFB and perform other duties as prescribed by law and the Standing Rules. The Director shall also be responsible for any and all matters assigned to OFB by the Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, or equivalent Standing Committee.
§ 13106. Duties of Office.
The Office of Finance and Budget shall:
(a) develop and adopt a model for Guam's existing and projected economy that simulates the effect of revenue raising, the effect of any proposed benefits to said economy, optional revenue generation and the utility thereof;
(b) compile and provide to I Liheslaturan Guåhan, I Maga'lahi and the public forecasts of revenue that do not consider new or increased taxes, fees or other revenue enhancements authorized by an Annual or Supplemental Operating Budget Bill, but that do consider current and prior year expenditures, surpluses and deficits;
(c) assess the impact of federal expenditures on Guam; and
(d) perform such other duties as are assigned to it by the Standing Rules of I Liheslaturan Guåhan or the Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means or the equivalent committee.
SOURCE: Added by P.L. 29-002:VI:29 (May 18, 2007). Amended by P.L. 29- 019:VI:71 (Sept. 29, 2007).
§ 13107. Special Accounting Service.
There is hereby established a Special Accounting Service work group comprised of a senior staff member of I Liheslaturan Guåhan’s Office of Finance and Budget; the Controller of the Department of Administration; the Chief of the Taxpayer Services Administration Branch of the Department of Revenue and Taxation; the Budget Analyst Supervisor of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research; the Chief Planner of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans; and the Chief Information Officer (CIO) of the Bureau of Information Technology (BIT). Said Service shall meet from time to time to discuss and develop recommendations on fiscal policy, provide technical assistance to the Office of Finance and Budget, and share information relative to government finances. The senior staff member of I Liheslaturan Guåhan’s Office of Finance and Budget shall serve as Chairperson of the Special Accounting Service.
SOURCE: Added by P.L. 29-002:VI:29 (May 18, 2007). Amended by P.L. 29- 019:VI:41 (Sept. 29, 2007).
§ 13108. Special Economic Service.
There shall be a Special Economic Service work group comprised of the Chairman of I Liheslaturan Guåhan’s Committee on Ways and Means, or equivalent Standing Committee; the Director of the Office of Finance and Budget; the Public Auditor; the Director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research; the Director of Revenue and Taxation; the Director of Administration; the Administrator of the Guam Economic Development and Commerce Authority; the Chief Economist of the Department of Labor; the Chief Economist of the Bureau of Statistics and Plans; and the Administrator of Research and Evaluation (Research Manager) of the Guam Visitors Bureau. Said Service shall meet from time to time to discuss and develop recommendations on economic policy, provide technical assistance to the Office of Finance and Budget, and share information relative to the state of the economy. The Chairperson of the Committee on Ways and Means, or equivalent Standing Committee, shall serve as Chairperson of the Special Economic Service.
SOURCE: Added by P.L. 29-002:VI:29 (May 18, 2007). Amended by P.L. 29- 019:VI:41 (Sept. 29, 2007).
§ 13109. Executive Branch Accounting, Financial, and Economic
Services.
I Maga’lahen Guåhan shall provide the Office of Finance and Budget with any and all information and services it requires to fully execute this Chapter.
(a) Reports The following reports shall be submitted to I Liheslaturan Guåhan as indicated:
(1) No later than thirty (30) days after the end of each month of a fiscal year, the Director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research shall report the revenue tracking for the General Fund, the Tourist Attraction Fund, Solid Waste Operations Fund (Tipping Fees), Territorial Education Facilities Fund, and the Guam Highway Fund for the balance of the fiscal year, based upon the actual collections of the preceding month, and prepare a comparative statement of “actual” and “projected” revenues. Such information shall be compiled in a report, in collaboration with the Director of Revenue and Taxation and the Director of Administration, certified by the Director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research, and submitted to the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan no later than thirty (30) days after the end of each month of the fiscal year;
(2) On January 30, 2008 and July 1, 2008, and on a semiannual basis thereafter, the Director of the Bureau of Statistic and Plans in coordination with Department of Labor shall report the impact of federal expenditures, including projections of federal expenditures on Guam, on Guam’s economic growth, employment, tax revenues, and other variables, for the next year compared with the previous five (5) years; identify significant federal expenditures or potential expenditures on Guam affecting military bases, installations, active duty and retired military personnel within Guam, as well as any impact of the changes in these expenditures. Such information shall be compiled in a report, certified by a majority of the members of the Special Economic Service, and submitted to the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan;
(3) On January 30, 2008 and July 1, 2008, and on a semiannual basis thereafter, the General Manager of the Guam Visitors Bureau in coordination with the Government of Guam’s Chief Economist shall report the impact of tourism expenditures on Guam’s economy and employment, including projections of tourism expenditures on Guam, on Guam’s economic growth, employment, tax revenues, and other variables, for the next year compared with the previous five (5) years; identify significant tourism expenditures or potential expenditures coming into Guam affecting tourism as well as the impact of the changes in these expenditures. Such information shall be compiled in a report, certified by a majority of the members of the Special Economic Service, and submitted to the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan; and
(4) The Director of the Bureau of Budget and Management Research shall report the long-range forecasts of revenues and expenditures for each of the five (5) years immediately beyond the budget year. Such information shall be compiled in a report, certified by a majority of the members of the Special Economic Service and submitted to the Speaker of I Liheslaturan Guåhan.
SOURCE: Added by P.L. 29-002:VI:29 (May 18, 2007). Amended by P.L. 29- 019:VII:12 (Sept. 29, 2007), P.L. 29-113:VI:53 (Sept. 30, 2008).