By Lee Webber for his column, Ombre Ga’chong, published in Kandit News & Views
Have you ever wondered what would happen if there were a truly unbiased audit done of every government of Guam department, commission and board to determine not only their individual efficiency but also the standards of service, maintenance of facilities, and customer response times?
An audit done by someone who had no political connection to Guam or the government leadership, and was required to look at current necessary operational costs, how efficiently they operated, and how many people were really required to run the departments efficiently and effectively as compared to what existed at the time of examination?
Having lived here since 1968 and watched the government of Guam expanded to the obviously over-bloated situation we are currently faced with, my guess is that the results would be shocking to say the least.
The mere fact that GovGuam has an annual budget of somewhere in the vicinity of $1.3 to $1.6 billion (including federal funding) for this year sends a clear message that very significant efficiency problems exist that need serious addressing.
Another question for those unbiased auditors would be to do a daily head count for the number of people that were actually assigned and functionally “working” in each of the areas as compared to what the auditors professionally believed were required for efficient operations.
The primary areas to begin with for these litmus tests would be those that the government actually was originally required to provide i.e. public safety (fire and police), education (all government associated schools) and public health (hospital, public health and mental health, GPA, GWA and Public Works).
The other, currently functioning departments, boards, and commissions would follow and thereafter the non-essential boards and commissions that were simply space holders for political power or gain.
Given the reality that 90%++ of the revenue for the government rests in personnel expenses it is not difficult to see how we could reduce government spending while at the same time maintain “real “ necessary government services, improve efficiency and overall quality of life for residents.
This is a critical subject to address as we approach the next gubernatorial, senatorial and mayoral elections.
If we truly want to make Guam a better place for all of our residents and their respective families, this government is going to have to get significantly more serious about how and where it spends our limited tax and dwindling federal dollars.
It is very seriously high time that people running for and attaining political office and those that they appoint to critical positions do so with the serious concern for who it is they actually work for, how residents and federal tax dollars are being spent and begin being more frugal in that process.
We are seriously losing ground economically because of the level of careless and personally driven spending and control within the government of Guam.
It is time to Make Guam Great Again.
Esta.
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Lee P. Webber is a businessman and civic advocate, the former publisher of the Pacific Daily News, a former president and publisher of the Honolulu Advertiser, and a former director of operations for USA Today International/Asia
