Guam sends $10M in back pay to officers

HAGATNA, Guam (AP) Guam is sending $10 million of back pay to police, corrections and other public safety officers who haven't been paid promised raises since 2009.

The Pacific Daily News reported Wednesday (http://bit.ly/IQqGyn ) that the lump sum payments to about 1,000 officers will cover about half of the back pay owed.

Administration officials for Guam Gov. Eddie Calvo say the territory has been saving money to make the payment. The back pay has been Guam's largest liability to government workers.

"This will be another obligation wiped off our books," Calvo said. He said other pay increases will be paid beginning next year.

Joshua Tenorio, spokesman for the Guam Judiciary, said marshals and probation officers got checks in November for back pay owed through September 2012. The back pay from 2013 is about $1.2 million, he said.

Tenorio said there is a disparity between officers in the executive and judicial branches, with judicial officers not seeing an increase in regular paychecks.

"We've used every single option to use funds within our control to pay past-due amounts and we need to find solutions to bring them up to par with everyone else," he said.

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Information from: Pacific Daily News: http://www.guampdn.com