Director of the Office of Program Planning and Budget, Catherine Saelua, has issued the budget call for ASG for Fiscal Year 2025.
Local revenues are set at $125 million. This compares with the total local revenues in the approved budget for Fiscal Year 2023 of $117 million.
The total budget for ASG for the current fiscal year is $693.4 million.
Saelua has asked directors to set their budget requests at 5% above their approved budgets for the current fiscal year.
She noted that the Governor has shared his concerns regarding the high cost of living and the on-going struggle for those who are at the bottom of the economic ladder, to meet basic needs. She said consideration will be given to the underfunded areas due to cuts in the FY2023 cuts in education, Medicaid, and special projects.
The cost for fringe benefits on FICA and Workmen’s Comp. are 7.65% and 1.05%, respectively, for both career and contract employees, with 10% of government contribution to the retirement fund, for a total fringe benefit rate of 18.70% for career service and 8.70% for contract employees. Furthermore, all fixed costs (utilities, communication, rents, and leases) should be identified and incorporated into each department’s budget plan.
Departments receiving federal grants were told that their proposed budget must be consistent with the most recent approved Federal Grant Award, and must not to exceed authorized amounts in current awards.
They were also told that their COVID-19 related grant awards were not to be included in their FY2024 proposed submission but to submit it separately.
For Enterprise Funds, a profit and loss statement for the last three years must be submitted. “It is critical that the proposed operating expenses are subsequently offset by sufficient revenue collections,” said Saelua.
Semi-autonomous authorities are to prepare their proposed budget plan for direct submission to the Legislature with a copy to the Budget Office to be included in the main Budget document proposal.
The deadline for submitting budget requests is May 22.
The Fiscal Year 2024 budget for ASG will be the main legislation on the Fono’s agenda for its next session, which begins on the second Monday of July.
