Funding for the two new govt agencies included in proposed FY2023 budget

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The budgets for the newly established agencies under the authority of the Governor’s Office — the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency and the American Samoa Correctional Facility are included in the proposed fiscal year 2023 budget.

The two agencies were initially under the Department of Public Safety.

 The Marine Patrol Division, Fire Division and the EMS, under the LBJ Hospital were transferred to the Search and Rescue Agency.

In June of this year, Governor Lemanu Peleti Mauga issued an executive order, which established the Search and Rescue Agency and the Correctional Facility  as independent agencies within the Executive Branch of the American Samoa Government.

The proposed 2023 budget for the Search and Rescue Agency is $3.60 million consisting of $2.53 in local funding and $1.07 million in grant funding.

This is outlined in the proposed budget book submitted to the Legislature for approval.

Under the Sea and Rescue Division, a total of $295,000 has been allocated; Fire, $1.23 million and $1million for the EMS has been allocated for its operations.

The total funding to be spent on salaries for Fire amounts to $955,703 — which is more than 80 percent of its budget.

For the Sea and Rescue Division, formerly known as the Marine Patrol Division, the salaries allocated amount to $493.989 and allocated budget is $295,000. According to the budget book, half of the salaries will be funded by grant funding.

For the TCF the proposed budget amounts to $1.79 million whereas total salaries is $1.07 million.

The establishing of these new agencies was questioned before committees of the Senate and House. Last month the House Government Operations committee held a hearing chaired by Rep. Faimealelei Anthony Fu’e.

He pointed out the concerns from members of the public and also employees from the various agencies affected wanting to know the reason behind the changes.

In the Senate, President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean also cited a lot of questions have arisen from the Administration moves and whether it should have been brought before the Legislature for approval.

He was referring to the Marine Patrol and the Fire Division as stand alone agencies or the American Samoa Search and Rescue Agency — an independent agency responsible for providing search, rescue, fire protection, marine patrol, and emergency medical services.

These changes were made via Executive Order of the Governor implemented in June.

The Governor’s Chief of Staff Tuimavave Tauapa’i Mulipola told the hearing before the house, when the new administration came into office, this was one of the issues they were looking at — to separate these services out, which were under other government departments.

He said that it’s taken two years for the new administration to figure out the plan and how to establish these agencies.

Tuimamave said that before these two agencies were established, Gov. Lemanu Peleti Mauga and Lt. Gov. Talauega Eleasao Ale had a discussion with the LBJ CEO and the Police Commissioner.

The CEO and the Police Commissioner supported the idea and were willing to work together with the administration to make sure the transition would not only be smooth but also up and running.

Regarding the TCF, it will be overseen by the a Warden, who is appointed by the governor — and serves at the pleasure of the Governor — and is not subject to Fono confirmation.

Furthermore, the Warden shall oversee the operations of TCF, the Juvenile Detention Center, and any other location where inmates are confined.

The Search and Rescue Agency, will have a Fire Chief, EMS Chief and Marine Patrol Chief appointed by Governor and is not subject to Fono confirmation and serves at the pleasure of the Governor.