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Guam - The Governor's Spending Cuts Task Force has turned in their recommendations for how to eliminate the structural imbalance of the GovGuam's budget. Their recommendations are still under review and the governor plans on presenting their full plan to the legislature on  July 25th.

"Well first of all I don't think there are any surprises you’ve all heard one idea or another in how do we reduce the government deficit and how do we set the course for fiscal stability,” said Governor Eddie Calvo. Over the last few months the spending cuts task force has discussed various ways of eliminating what the governor has referred to as the structural deficit or recurring annual costs that the government can't continue to bear.

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"But at this point we are still reviewing it and then from there I will approve some of the areas that I can work on basically through executive order or through other decisions made by myself or by my staff but some of these other areas we may need legislative approval and so we will be also either sending suggestions or bills over for future action,” said the Governor.

 Some of these bills may involve the recalculation of contributions to the retirement fund, the recalculation of pay scales and the elimination of some forms of specialty pay like night differential and hazardous pay. Some recommendations would also eliminate or reduce certain GovGuam employee benefits. "The bottom line is this we understand that we are still operating under a deficit and we need to make these adjustments it'll be for the good long term interest of our workers in GovGuam it'll be in the good long-term interest for the government and the best long term interest of the people of Guam,” said Governor Calvo.

 So when will these recommendations be implemented? "It's a favorable time right now we're looking towards the budget bill and whether they are worked on or ratified in a stand alone basis or they're incorporated in a budget bill either way but I’m looking forward to working with my other colleagues in public service the legislature to move forward in these fiscal initiatives,” said Governor Calvo. The Governor says that some of these recommendations could take affect during 2013 fiscal year.