The Fono budget hearings have ended with the joint committees approving a reduction to the Governor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2021 budget from $465.9 million to $459.4 million.
Chairman Senator Magalei Logovii told KHJ News the budget call that went out in March called for all budget requests to remain at the approved FY2020 budget amounts. But when the actual budget plan was presented to the Fono it had ballooned way over the FY2020 budget. He said the Fono is returning the budget total to the FY2020 budget amount.
In addition the Fono feels that local revenue projections in the proposed budget are been overinflated. And based on the actual revenues raised from previous years, it’s unlikely that the amount in the new budget will be realized. Lawmakers did not agree that the COVID-19 funding would generate additional revenues because these funds will lapse at the end of Fiscal Year 2020. They also don’t believe cannery operations will remain at the current production levels as forecast by the administration.
The Fono has reduced the Executive Branch budget by $7 million slashing it from $76.7 million to $69.7 million but has not identified where the reductions will be made. Rather it is leaving it to the executive to decide where to cut.
The only other change that the Fono made is to add half a million dollars to the Special Programs budget to pay for Fono offices.
A joint conference committee of both houses approved the changes this morning. 
During the discussion on the budget changes this morning, Senator Fonoti Tafaifa asked for an explanation about the more than 200 employees that appear in the Fono budget.
While her question was directed at Senator Magalei, Senate President Gaoteote Palaie responded that they were not discussing employees rather the final budget amounts.
Gaoteote said employees of the Fono are the prerogative of the House Speaker and himself.
He also said that the budget approved for the Fono is what is used to carry out Fono operations and pay people to do the work.
But Senator Fonoti continued saying the motto of the territory is God First which speaks to honesty and justice. But what she’s seen is there were fairies and ghosts at the Fono. Fonoti said she was full of respect for districts and the people of the territory and in a raised voice declared, “don’t let this happen again.”
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, intervened and brought the discussions to a close.
During the Senate session that followed, Senator Magalei Logovi’i apologized to the Senate President for the outburst from his fellow senator from Tuala-uta. He said he was prepared to answer Senator Fonoti but the Senate President, perhaps because of his respect for the elderly senator had answered.
Gaoteote said he didn’t mind being asked and explained that the Fono also exists to help the people of the territory who need jobs.
Senate President Pro Tem Nuanuaolefeagaiga Saoluaga Nua however said if someone is frustrated about something and doesn’t bring it up, it will affect them so he’s happy that Senator Fonoti , and Senator Faamausili on another matter, expressed their views. He said they must feel much better now having expressed their views.
