Guam Sen. Jesse Lujan has introduced legislation to build a new headquarters for the Department of Revenue and Taxation on public land along Marine Corps Drive.
Bill 332-38 authorizes Rev and Tax to enter into a public-private partnership for the design, construction, financing and maintenance of a new headquarters.
The bill describes the current headquarters in an aging warehouse structure as being in “terrible, even dangerous working condition," and notes that the government spends $1.3 million a year to lease the space.
While the bill does not specify an exact location for the new facility, it does say that the building should be located “along Guam’s primary highway, Marine Corps Drive, in close and convenient proximity to a major intersection, in proximity to northern-central Guam.”
The bill would unite tax functions, vehicle registration, driver licensing, business licensing and other department responsibilities under one roof, increasing efficiency.
In a news release announcing the bill, Lujan said almost every resident and business on the island depends on Rev and Tax.
“This is about fiscal responsibility, public service, and basic common sense,” Lujan said. “Instead of continuing to pour millions into rent for an obsolete building, we should use those dollars to build equity, improve service delivery, and give DRT employees and taxpayers a safe, modern, and accessible facility.”
