The only change that the Fono is making to the proposed Fiscal Year 2020 budget for ASG is to move $500,000 that was listed as a Fono subsidy under the Governor’s Special Programs to the Fono’s budget.
The decision was made yesterday by the joint Budget and Appropriations Committee at the conclusion of budget hearings which spanned two weeks.
Both the Senate President and House Speaker said that the Fono’s budget request was $7.4 million, as that was the cost to operate the Legislature.
However only $6.9 million was the budget amount set by the governor for the Fono while $500,000 was put under the Governors Special Programs for the Fono.
It was felt that this funding should come under the Fono’s budget and as the Legislature is a separate branch of government, the Fono leaders, not the governor, should have control over how it’s spent.
There were suggestions that this money be used to increase the expense allowances of lawmakers, with Senator Magalei Logovii pointing out that it’s been four years and lawmakers have not received any increase in their salaries.
There was a lot of discussion in the final deliberations yesterday on the salary increases in the budget for Directors and Governor’s Office staff.
Several lawmakers pointed out that if those raises are approved, the directors and Governor’s Office staff will be making more or the same as the Lt Governor.
To prevent this some lawmakers wanted the committee to make a decision on the bill to raise the salaries of the governor and lt. governor.
But Senate President Gaoteote Palaie pointed out that each chamber should make their own decision on the bill.
He said that the bill doesn’t cover only salaries of the two leaders, plus the effective date is 2021, so there was ample time to review it.
Rep Larry Sanitoa suggested that the Fono approve a budget for two quarters of the new fiscal year under a continuing resolution, and allow time for the executive to correct budget items which were not in order.
He cited as an example the Debt Service which is listed under Enterprise Funds.
However, Senator Magalei Logovii said there’s no provision for a continuing resolution by the American Samoa Legislature. He said only Congress has that authority.
KHJ News points out however that during the administration of Coleman and Tufele, ASG was operated under a continuing resolution when the Fono failed to pass the budget bill before the start of the new fiscal year.
The House and Senate will now vote on the budget bill totaling $421.4 million separately.
