The official word from the Acting Executive Director of the American Samoa Power Authority is, “No decision has been made.”
He was responding to KHJ News enquiries about statements from employees of ASPA that the authority is instituting a 10% across the board paycut.
Acting ASPA Executive Director Wallon Young says they are preparing employees for what may or may not happen as the authority continues cost cutting measures to stay afloat.
Young points out that there’s no new money coming in and since 2016 ASPA has been cutting costs.
“However those measures are not enough and the time has come to make some real hard decisions,” said Young.
He says employees have been informed of a possible reduction in work hours however he stressed that no decision has been made.
KHJ News asked if the possible reduction will include employees who are on contract, which is nearly all of the management of ASPA.
Young said there are some legal issues which need to be sorted out.
According to ASPA’s FY2018 budget the authority has 414 employes of which 28 are on contract.
Young told KHJ News that consideration of the 10% paycut is a management decision, which is being done in consultation with the ASPA Board of Directors.
On another issue, when asked if ASPA will heed a House of Representatives resolution calling for a one year delay in the implementation of a rate hike for water and waste water, Young said they are taking the resolution seriously.
The rate hikes are scheduled to take effect October 1st.
