Two budget items vetoed reducing total for one supplemental bill

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Before signing into law the Administration’s Supplemental Appropriation for fiscal year 2024, Gov. Lemanu P.S Mauga line-item vetoed two budget items totaling $2.5 million, which were allocated to the Fono, thereby reducing the supplemental bill from $22 million to just over $19 million.

And the line-item vetoed budget items is one of the two proposed supplemental measures that is being submitted by the Administration for the Special Session of the Fono to convene next month.

In an Oct. 16 letter, the governor — prior to traveling off island early last week —  informed Fono leaders that he has “partially approved” the FY 2024 supplemental bill and that the “approval is subject to line-item veto” in accordance with a provision of the Revised Constitution of American Samoa.

(Samoa News notes that the provision gives the governor the authority to line-item veto money bills.)

The Fono amended the original version of the FY 2024 supplemental as submitted by the Administration. And among the changes made by the Fono and added to the final version sent the governor, is $1 million to the Legislative Branch for a 75th Anniversary Commemoration; and $1.5 million for the new Fono Building equipment and furnishings.

The governor informed Fono leaders that the $2.5 million that has been line item vetoed shall remain un-appropriated, pending further action by the Legislature. And he revealed through separate correspondence that he’ll be requesting a special legislative session to allow for further consideration of these appropriations.

“I sincerely appreciate that you and your esteemed colleagues will exercise the required due diligence in considering these supplemental appropriations,” he wrote to Fono leaders.

In fact, the governor submitted through separate correspondence, a letter dated Oct. 16, calling the first special session for the 38th Legislature to convene on Monday, Nov. 13, “for a period not to exceed ten (10) calendar days.”

As for the FY 2024 supplemental appropriations, totaling $19.50 million, signed into law by the governor and effective immediately, these are the approved budget-items:

•  $1 million — Fono “to address additional critical operational needs that are not addressed in the FY2024 budget”;

•  $991,000 — Governor’s Office for operational needs not addressed in FY 2024 Budget;

•  $400,000 — Office of Samoan Affairs for operational needs not addressed in FY 2024 Budget;

•  $886,000 — Department of Public Safety for “critical operational” needs not addressed in FY 2024 Budget;

•  $970,000 — Department of Corrections for “critical operational” needs not addressed in the FY2024 Budget

•  $550,000 — Legal Affairs Department for legal fees for outside counsel, case settlement, and anticipated legislation, to address critical operational needs not addressed in the FY2024 Budget

•  $250,000 — Office of Public Defender for critical operational needs not addressed in the FY2024 Budget

•  $200,000 — Maui Donation

•  $50,000 — Mosooi festival

•  $200,000 — Samoa Bowl

•  $500,000 — overtime compensation

•  $150,000 — Ofu Seaport

•  $150,000 — Faleasao Seaport

•  $250,000 — Fitiuta Airport

•  $200,000 — Manu’a air travel subsidy

 •  $200,000 — Manu’a sea travel subsidy

•  $253,000 — Washington DC consultant

•  $650,000 — Manu’a Community Center

•  $1.5 million — Swains Island Airport and Roads

•  $150,000 — Pacific Island Forum (SPC)

•  $2 million — ANZ Building and furnishings

•  $1 million — Federal Aviation Administration Park

•  $500,000 — DMWR building

• $4 million - Islandwide Shoreline Improvements

• $1.5 million - revisions and updates to the American Samoa Code Annotated

• $1 million for Fagaima Road Improvement.