ASG’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2023 which begins October 1st, is pegged at $693.41 million, an increase of 25% compared to the current year budget.
Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga said, at the opening of the Fono session yesterday, that the increase is attributed to the “significant surge in federal grants due to COVID-19.”
49% of the budget is comprised of local funds while the balance of 51.1% comes from federal funds.
According to the Governor, this was a conservative estimate consistent with the expected revenue trends.
Local revenues are projected to raise $117,876,500, a 7% increase from prior year.
Lemanu expressed optimism that the projections will pan out based on the “surge in taxes, license and permits, charges for services and other miscellaneous revenue sources.”
He said, “Increased compliance and tax audits, collections, lease agreements, increased business activity due to the current and anticipated continuity centered around COVID-19 projects to include the re-opening of our borders will provide a solid local revenue base.”
Top priorities of the budget are “strengthening critical services needed to support government operations and improve the quality of life for people with an emphasis on education, healthcare, public safety, economic development, youth capacity development, senior citizens, quality of life improvement, critical environmental threats with the dangers of climate change, rising sea levels and our eroding roads and seawalls; and last but the not the least, our social services.”
Lemanu told lawmakers, “I have the confidence that despite our political conviction, we will come together in one spirit to do what is in the best interest of our people.”
