Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean has introduced a bill which explicitly requires the Governor to submit any unanticipated revenues exceeding the approved budget to the Fono for appropriation before spending such revenues.
The bill states that prior to obligating or expending any funds derived from unanticipated revenues exceeding previously appropriated expenditures, the Governor shall submit an appropriation bill to the Legislature specifying the intended use of unanticipated revenues and detailing the proposed allocations.
Unanticipated revenues include those funds received by the territory from local, federal, or other sources that differ from the initial revenue estimates.
The Legislature may approve, modify or reject the proposal through standard legislative procedures.
The bill would go into effect immediately when passed by the Fono, and signed by the Governor.
