Proposal to pay Gov’s Chief of Staff same as Lt Gov raises eyebrows

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The proposed increase to the salary of the Governor’s Chief of Staff to $75,000 annually (which will then put it on the same pay-level as the Lieutenant Governor) raised questions and concerns from lawmakers during Tuesday’s Fono Joint Budget Committee hearing.

Further, other ‘new’ paid positions listed in the Governor’s Office budget include a Biodiversity Conservation Office and a “Cultural and Spiritual Advisor” (a chaplain to the governor).

The Governor’s Executive Assistant, Iulogologo Joseph Pereira, appeared before the joint committee, reviewing the Governor’s Office FY 2020 total budget of $5.74 million — which includes smaller agencies that come under the Governor’s Office umbrella.

The Chief of Staff was not identified by name during the hearing. In the budget document, only job titles are listed along with salaries, but not names. Samoa News notes that the Governor’s Chief of Staff is Fiu J. Saelua, and he was unable to attend the hearing due to unforeseen circumstances.

During the budget hearing, Rep. Larry Sanitoa noted salaries for the Governor’s Office, and how they are presented in the budget document. For example, the Chief of Staff’s “current salary” is $75,000, which is the same amount for the “proposed salary” for FY 2020.

Sanitoa asked about the current salary — FY 2019 — for the Chief of Staff, to which Iulogologo responded that it’s $70,000 currently, while the proposed increase to $75,000 is for FY 2020 — upon the Fono’s approval of the FY 2020 budget — but the final decision on implementing the pay hike is made by the governor.

Sanitoa pointed out that the salaries for the governor’s staff shows the same amount in the “current salary” as in the “proposed salary”.

Iulogologo apologized to the committee for the errors in the budget set-up presented to the Fono, but reiterated that all salaries listed as “proposed” are not effective until the new fiscal year.

Sen. Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said he doesn’t question the salaries of the Governor’s legal counsel, as well as Iulogologo who, “in the eyes of the cabinet... is the executive advisor to the governor.”

Tuaolo pointed out that the salaries of the ASG Treasurer and the Attorney General are both at $75,000 — which is the same proposed salary for the Chief of Staff. He asked Iulogologo: “What do you think?”

Iulogologo responded that these decisions are made by the governor.

Tuaolo told the committee that once the FY 2020 budget is signed into law, the Chief of Staff’s salary will be the same as the Lt. Governor and a bit higher than many cabinet members.

More questions were raised on the same issue — and Iulogologo acknowledged them — but reminded lawmakers that salaries of the Governor and Lt. Governor are set by law after proper legislation is approved by the Fono. He said the Administration had already submitted for Fono review and approval, proposed legislation which will increase the salary of the Lt. Governor.

Iulogologo was referring to the bill that was introduced this week in both the Senate and House, that hikes the Governor’s salary from $85,000 to $100,000 and the Lt. Governor from $75,000 to $85,000.

CAREER SERVICE

Rep. Sanitoa, during the hearing,  inquired about the proposed 17 career service employees, compared to a much lower number in FY 2019, where most of them were contract workers. He asked if the Governor’s Office followed the process of routing the conversion from contract to career service, to the Human Resources Department.

Iulogologo said “yes”, adding that most of these employees — converted to career service — have just started their working lives. He reminded lawmakers that when a new governor takes over in January 2021 that person can decide on continued employment of these individuals, as well as all of those currently on the Governor’s staff.

“At least for now, there are guaranteed jobs for these individuals converted to career service,” he said, and noted that the proposed increase in FY 2020 for senior staff — including himself in the Governor’s Office — is valid for only one year.

When the new governor takes office, that person brings in his/ her own senior staff, Iulogologo said. (Samoa News notes that these senior staff members, who are not career service, serve at the pleasure of the governor and resign upon the final days of the current administration.)

Rep. Sanitoa called on the Governor to look at implementing increment increases for workers proposed in FY 2020, since senior staff are also getting pay hikes.

INSURANCE COMMISSION

Rep. Vailoata Eteuati Amituana’i pointed out that the Office of the Insurance Commission — which is part of the Governor’s Office — has a budget of just over $100,000 with only 4 employees.

However, he said there’s no mention anywhere in the budget on how much the Insurance Commission was able to secure for ASG from its insurer, for damages following Tropical Cyclone Gita last year.

Iulogologo explained that ASG’s claim was $15 million and the insurance company, as of now, has only paid $5 million, leaving $10 million that ASG continues to fight with the insurer to get.

OTHER ISSUES

Vailoata inquired about the Governor’s Biodiversity Conservation Office, which has a proposed budget of just over $123,000

Iulogologo said these are new personnel who will be working with villages to — among other things — eliminate invasive tree species such as the Tamaligi. He said these individuals have been re-assigned from the National Park Service to this new office, which comes under local jurisdiction.

In the past, he said, the National Park had a different goal of what needed to be carried out, compared to local needs. And these changes will focus on addressing local needs.

Joint committee co-chair, Sen. Magalei Logovi’i asked about the position, “Cultural and Spiritual Advisor” to which Iulogologo said, this is the chaplain to the governor. The budget document notes that the salary for this position is $40,000 for FY 2020.