Amendments by the House of Representatives to the proposed Fiscal Year 2025 budget for ASG were approved by the joint Budget and Appropriations Committee Friday morning.
The amendments were approved by a vote of 14-11.
The Senate wanted to reduce the local revenues portion of the budget from $165.2 million to just $136 million, and to also cut the Special Programs budget from $32.6 million to $18 million which would include earmarks of $6 million for Medicaid, and $1 million for the dedication of the new Fono building. But the House stood firm to approve the original amount of local revenues in the Governor’s budget proposal, as well as the Special Programs budget, but with a few changes.
House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale said the administration has said it will be able to collect the amount in the budget ($165.2 million) and the Fono should trust their assessment.
The Co-Chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee Senator Utu Sila Poasa said while he supports the House amendments, they should base their decisions on how much revenues can be collected. He said the Senate doesn’t believe the projected local revenues in the new fiscal year budget would be achieved.
The Senate had also proposed to add $45,000 to the budget of the Office of Samoan Affairs to raise the salaries of the three District Governors to $75,000.
The House Co-Chair of the joint budget hearings, Rep. Vailoata Eteuati Amituanai presented the House amendments to the Special Programs budget. $1 million will go to the American Samoa Community College…$500,000 will be deducted from the $3 million allocated for Island Beautification and another $500,000 will be cut from the $1.5 million for the Samoa Land Development. The House also proposed that $300,000 be deducted from the Manu’a Development & Maintenance allocation of $2.5 million to be used for transportation for Swains and Manu’a.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean commented that the Senate will not change its position, but rather will have an extended discussion which may take all day, they should take a vote on whether to approve the House or Senate changes.
Rep. Vailoata then asked for a show of hands in support of the House changes to the budget bill. 14 voted in support. 11 were against.
These will be the only changes included in the final budget bill that each chamber will vote on separately next week. Everything else in the Governor’s budget plan remains the same.
