Governor Lolo Moliga has extended his executive order authorizing the use of unappropriated funds from Fiscal Year 2020 to continue the operations of ASG departments, agencies and authorities for another 60 days.
In a new executive order dated October 31st, Lolo said it is imperative to continue government operations while the territory is in a state of emergency.
He noted that a special session of the Fono has been called to finalize the budget for FY2021.
“This authority is intended to be temporary in nature and limited to maintain current levels of operation until a final FY2021 budget has been adopted,” says the order.
Operation of ASG departments, agencies, semi autonomous agencies and the Legislature and Judiciary will continue at FY2020 budgetary funding levels using funds not otherwise appropriated, for an additional 60 days from the last executive order, or until the formal budget or other appropriation measures are adopted.
The first executive order lasted up to October 15 and the second one extended that one by 15 days.
The governor ordered that no expenditures for projects and activities beyond FY2020 levels will be allowed.
The issuance of the latest executive order to keep ASG opened while an FY2021 budget has not been signed into law, is an indication that Lolo has not approved the interim appropriations bill that the Fono sent him last week.
The bill was requested by the administration and the only changes that the Fono made to the bill was to extend the effective period for the interim
appropriations from 30 to 60 days and amend language that said the Fono did not approve the FY2021 budget.
Click here for the full text of the new executive order on the budget. Executive-Order-010-20-To-Temporarily-Continue-Government-Operations-at-FY-2020-Budget-Levels
