Each of the Senate and House approved in final reading their respective versions of the Fiscal Year 2017 budget for the American Samoa Government today.
The final budget is $2 million higher than the amount that Governor Lolo originally proposed of $278.4 million when the budget bill was first introduced last month.
The $2 million increase is the amount that the Lolo Lemanu administration is putting up as local match for $7.7 million from the US Department of Transportation for relocation of the fuel tanks at the airport and other airport improvements.
Despite several questions raised by lawmakers during the two weeks of budget hearings, the final budget bill was approved intact, with no changes whatsoever, save for the $2 million increase.
This is the first time since Governor Lolo and Lt. Governor Lemanu took office in 2013 that the budget bill has been passed without any changes.
The House version of the appropriations bills will now be enrolled and submitted to the governor for his signature.
The new fiscal year begins October 1st.
