Senate Puts Brake on Supplemental Budget Bill

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The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee is taking its time to review the governor’s supplemental budget bill for Fiscal Year 2016 of $2.5 million.

Fronting before the committee this morning to testify on the request were Budget Director Cathy Aigamaua Saelua and Acting Treasurer Tina Vaa.

galeai senateSenator Galea’i Tuufuli recommended after the witnesses were excused that the Committee re-evaluate the supplemental budget bill particularly the more than $900,000 that the Fono had cut from the Special Programs budget.

He said the Fono had valid reasons for slashing money from Special Programs but the governor chose to veto the cuts.

The Fono had added the funding it reduced from Special Programs to the Fono and Judiciary’s budget but the amendments fell victim to the governor’s line item veto.

Using the Sports complex as an example, Galeai said the total funding for the sports complex under special programs would be $300,000.

He said before senators approve the additional $100,000 they need to know how the money will be used.

He said the taxpayers are the ones who are paying this money and they want to know what the funds will be spent on.

Galea’i said there s still time to act on the supplemental budget bill as its early in the fiscal year.

Senator Tuaolo questioned the $200,000 being spent on the American Samoa History Book project.

The project involves the addition of a new section on the Centennial Book by Rob Shaefer, focusing on the Fitafita Guard.

Tuaolo said he doesn’t believe the territory’s history should be written by an outsider.

He also pointed to the Road Maintenance subsidy for which an earmark is now established by law yet, $800,000 is proposed in the Special Programs budget for this subsidy.

Senator Magalei Logovii also had questions anout one of the funding sources for the supplemental: $300,000 to be collected form the charging of cargo for Manu’a.

Magalei said this funding source is not certain…its a plan that hasn’t materialized.

Budget Director Cathy Saelua said Manu’a residents were shipping foodstuff and supplies free of charge on the MV Sili, and not buying from stores in Manu’a. So Port Administration intends to begin charging for all shipments.

Senator Galeai said previous administrations shipped cargo for free to help offset the expense of living in Manu’a.

He urged the Director of Budget and Acting Treasurer to advise the governor against this plan.

laolagiMagalei said the Fono‘s budget ceiling should be restored to what it was in Fiscal Year 2015, not the amount that the governor had in the Fiscal year 2016 budget law when he reduced the Fono’s budget by more than $700,0000 in his line item veto action.

The chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee Senator Laolagi Vaeao said the supplemental budget bill would sit with the committee for the time being.

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