Inalåhan Mayor Anthony Chargualaf asked the Mayors’ Council of Guam on Wednesday to support a pay raise for island senators.
During recent budget hearings, Chargualaf learned that senators make $55,307 a year – which is about $20,000 a year less than mayors make.
He said senators might be reluctant to vote for a pay raise, but with an election coming up next year, it’s in the island’s best interest to pay senators more money.
“Understanding that it's only $55,000 you're not going to get good quality to forfeit whatever they're currently making, to be able to run at that level,” Chargualaf said. “That's going to be very hard for anyone to make that decision, to vacate a current position they're holding, making more than that.”
In 2016, members of the 33rd Guam Legislature voted to cut their pay, after giving themselves raises two years earlier.
Mayors’ Council Vice President Robert Hofmann of Sinajana said because the issue involved legislation, it would have to be placed on a future agenda.
“I hope you guys put that in some level of consideration,” Chargualaf said. “And you know in the next meeting, if possible, we can make it part of the agenda.”
