ASG Spending Kept at Bay for 3rd Quarter

3rd-quarter-performance-report

While many vendors are waiting to be paid before the fiscal year draws to a close, the third quarter performance report for ASG from Budget Director Catherine Saelua shows that spending was below the budgeted amount.

As of June 30,  year to date expenditures totaled $65.7 million or 61% of the approved annual budget of $108.1 million.

This left 39% of the budget to fund government operations to the end of the fiscal year on September 30.

The third quarter is when government employees faced a reduction in hours.

The Budget Director says given the budgeted spending threshold of 75% during this time of the year, the overall spending level is 14% better than normal.

She noted that budget containment measures in place have been effective in keeping spending down, and in line with collections.

Saelua said she was pleased to report that all branches of government and Special Programs have operated within their approved annual budgets.

The breakdown on spending  by branches:

  • Executive spent $45,747,843 million or 66% of annual budget of $69,489,000
  • Judiciary spent $1,513,292 million or 53% of its annual budget and
  • Legislature spent $5,419,590 or 78% of its annual budget of $6,916,500.
  • Special Programs spent $13,022,741 or 45% of annual budget of $28,876,000.

Of the $65.7 million year to date expenditures in this quarter,

  • 68.1 % went to personnel,
  • 18.3% to All Others,
  • 8.3% for contractual services,
  •  3.2% was spent on  supplies and materials,
  • 1.8% went to travel and
  • 0.3% was spent on equipment.

According to the Budget Director, ASG’s year end spending estimates is projected to be about $94.8 million or better at just 88% of the approved annual budget of $108.1 million.

She said,” ultimately we are in compliance with the Anti Deficiency Act as well as the balanced budget mandate.”

The 3rd Quarter Performance report from the Budget Office and the report by Treasury do not include any information on collections.

But a few lines from the Treasury report for the third quarter says…”…In the ending months of the third quarter May and June, our revenues collected ranged from $3.9 million and $7 million from both the Tax and Customs Division,  The dramatic increase has enabled restoration of working hours to lower paying wage earners only, with the remaining still on reduction in hours for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Payable obligations owed to vendors have also been significantly reduced as a result of the austerity measures.”

As we at KHJ News said, there are no numbers given to support the narrative.

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