The month of May is when the budget call for the new fiscal year is usually sent out to all ASG departments, agencies, the Fono and Judiciary.
However, as of last Thursday, the Budget Office had not yet issued the budget call for the fiscal year 2026 budget. The budget bill is the main item on the legislature’s agenda when the Fono reconvenes in July.
Calls to the Acting Director of the Office of Budget Program, Planning and Development Aokuso Satia, over the span of a week have not been answered.
With the late budget call and the Budget Office still without a confirmed director, its anticipated that the budget for the new fiscal year would not be ready for submission to the Fono until well into the second regular session.
Shortly after the administration of Governor Pulaalii Nikolo Pula and Lt. Governor Pulumataala Ae Ae Jr. took office in January, a list of director nominees that was released by the Governor’s Office listed Audra Stevenson as the acting director. However, Stevenson’s name was never submitted to the Fono for confirmation and it’s KHJ News understanding that she turned down the job offer.
In March, the nomination of Mrs. Sesula McMoore Tufele was sent to the Fono for confirmation
The Senate unanimously confirmed her, but she did not pass confirmation in the House twice. After the first House vote, her nomination was kept alive by a vote of reconsideration. However, when the House voted a second time, she was overwhelming rejected.
Mrs. Catherine Saelua, who was budget director during the Lemanu Laapui Administration and also during the Lolo and Lemanu Administration, had applied for the position when all director positions had been advertised late last year.
According to a Facebook post by one of Mrs. Saelua’s children, Mikaela Saelua, Governor Pulaalii offered her mother the position of Budget Director at a meeting in April and she was given a start date of April 28.
Mrs. Saleua is said to have reported to the Budget Office that day, however a memo appointing her was never issued. When she called the Governor’s Office to check the status of her appointment, the Governor reportedly said he thought she was starting in May. According to Mikaela’s post, the Governor told Mrs. Saelua to just start on Monday, May 5.
However on Saturday, May 3, the Governor called Mrs. Saelua and reportedly informed her that he has changed his mind. His advisors apparently told him not to appoint her since she used to be a director in the Lemanu and Laapui administration.
It remains to be seen whom the Governor will nominate for this key position in the cabinet.
