All 13 House representatives present at yesterday’s House session voted yes for the bill, which would add $20,000 to the office expense allowances of the Fono.
The bill becomes effective as soon as it’s signed into law by the Governor.
The Senate has also approved its version of the bill.
There’s $1 million in the $22 million supplemental bill submitted by the administration to cover the increase. The funding source is surplus from Fiscal Year 2022.
The increase would mean the Fono leaders will receive office expense allowances of $80,000 and the members will receive $65,000. This is in addition to their salaries of $30,000 for the Fono leaders, $25,000 for Senators and Representatives, and $20,000 for the Swains faipule.
Governor Lemanu had proposed a salary increase in the original bill; however, senators amended the bill to hike office expense allowances instead, and the House went along with the change.
Both the House and Senate have also approved in final reading their separate versions of the budget bill for Fiscal Year 2024. Usually the House version of the budget bill is enrolled and sent to the Governor for signing.
No changes were made to the original budget that the Lemanu Taluega administration submitted. The bill needs to be signed before the new fiscal year begins October 1st.
