On Thursday, the Senate passed, in final reading, its version of the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. The Senate bill mirrors that of the House. The only changes to the Governor’s original budget bill are in the Special Programs budget.
The American Samoa Community College subsidy in Special Programs is increased from $1 million to $2 million, $1 million is allocated for the dedication of the new Fono Building, $45,000 goes to salary increases for District Governors and $300,000 is for Manu’a and Swains Transportation.
To fund these additions to the Special Programs budget, the House and Senate have made cuts to what the Governor proposed for Ceremonial Activities, Island Beautification, Independent Samoa Land Development, and Manu’a Development & Maintenance.
Usually the House version of the budget bill is the one that is sent to the Governor to be signed into law.
