Treasurer Malemo Tausaga, Budget Director Cathy Saelua and Attorney General Fainuulelei Ala’ilima Utu are the first three directors to testify before the joint House and Senate hearings on the proposed Fiscal Year 2022 budget.
According to the hearing schedule prepared by the chairmen of the Senate and House Budget and Appropriations Committees, Sen Utu Sila Poasa and Rep Vailiuama Steve Leasiolagi, the hearings will last for two weeks ending August 10.
Department directors have been informed that the Fono expects them to testify on their spending requests and nit have their deputies or other substitutes appear on their behalf.
There had been mention in each chamber of withholding the budgets of agencies whose directors have not been submitted to the Fono for confirmation But so far there has been no further word on whether this will happen. The hearing schedule lists all departments, agencies, bureaus and authorities of the American Samoa Government having their time slot to present their budgets,
At yesterday’s cabinet meeting Budget Director Cathy Saelua reminded directors that the budgets they’re presenting and testifying on is the budget of Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lt Governor Talauega Eleasalo Ale and not “Cathy’s budget.”
At every budget hearing for the last several years, directors have appealed directly to the Fono for an increases in their budgets.
Saelua said yesterday some departments ask for the moon but their budget amounts have been allocated based on expected revenues. She explained that $4 milion was slashed from the Special Programs budget to fund requests from various departments. She said the federal grants received through the Dept of Education has been a blessing for the new fiscal year budget.
