Neither the Acting Treasurer, nor Budget Director, or Chief Customs Officer, could provide any information on Customs’ revenue collections to the House Ways and Means Committee.
The three officials were witnesses at a committee hearing concerning an administration bill establishing rates for the use of the new customs scanners.
Representative Faimealelei A Allen, asked Acting Treasurer Tina Va’a and Budget Director Catherine Saelua to state how much money the government raised from existing fees for 20 and 40 inch containers, loose cargo and vehicles imported into the territory in the past year.
Saelua apologized to the committee and said they didn’t have those figures with them.
Faimealelei said the reason why his committee is having a difficult time making a decision on the measure is because of lack of data to properly calculate projected revenues from use of the scanners.
He said House reps want justification that the rapid scan will result in increased revenues.
Faimealelei speculates that revenues raised from the scanner fees will exceed the $2 million which the administration needs as match for the $7.7 million from the US Department of Transportation.
The grant is for relocation of the jet fuel tanks at the airport and other airport improvements.
KHJ News points out that the scanner revenues are also to repay the American Samoa Economic Development Authority bonds.
Faimealelei told the government officials its common sense when coming to testify on appropriations bills to provide figures from the last few years.
While he supports the measure, he wanted concrete data for the Fono to review and arrive at a sound decision.
But despite the lack of information, the House passed the measure in second reading.
Representatives have reduced by $50 he scanner fee schedule that the administration proposed.
The fee for inspection of a 40 inch container is amended to $300, the fee for a 20 inch container is changed to$200, loose cargo is $50 and for vehicles the fee is reduced from $75 to $50.
The scanner fee for heavy equipment remains at $75.
