Light Review of FY2021 Budgets for Authorities

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In a first for budget hearings, the semi autonomous entities of ASG were let off lightly without much questioning by lawmakers.

All of the authorities: the LBJ Hospital, American Samoa Power Authority, the American Samoa Telecommunications Authority, and the American Samoa Community College were on the schedule for this morning and it took the committee less than an hour to finish review of their budgets, along with the budget for the Governor’s Special Programs and the Judiciary budget. 

KHJ News observed that some representatives had their hands up however Senator Magalei Logovii who is chairing the hearings did not give them a chance to ask questions.

In some cases he said that House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale would ask questions for all of the representatives.

The Speaker asked about the subsidy payments from ASG to the LBJ Hospital. CEO Faumuina John Faumuina said the hospital is receiving the 2% wage tax and the DOI subsidy,

Savali also asked if the salaries of $100,000 and above listed in the budget are for US certified doctors. Faumuina responded that this was true. Asked about salaries for local doctors he said their compensation is dependent on years of service and their field of expertise.

Senator Fonoti Taifaifa said she didn’t want nurses from other countries to be hired in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. She inquired about the status of the ASCC nursing program.

President Dr Rosevonne Pato said there’s no shortage of nursing students but they lack teaching staff.

ASCC’s proposed FY2021 budget is $14.1 million do 335 employees, compared to $137 million for FY2020 for 316 employee.

The college made a request to the Fono to increase their budget.

For the American Samoa Power Authority, Senator Logoai Siaki felt that ASPA has not done enough to help residents with their utility bills during the pandemic.

Customer Service Manager Ryan Tuatoo pointed out that savings from the drop in fuel costs has been passed to customers and this has reduced the cost per kilowatt hour of electricity.

No questions were asked regarding the ASTCA budget, and it was the same case for the Governor’s Special Programs.

Tomorrow is the final day of the budget hearings and the last budget to be reviewed is that of the Fono.

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