Report reveals pay hikes for Cabinet and deputies total $2.9 MIL

Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — Figures for salary increases for cabinet members and deputy directors proposed by the Lemanu and Talauega Administration — amount to $2.9 million.

This was revealed in a letter endorsed by Treasurer Malemo Tausaga addressed to the acting chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, Magalei Logovi’i, and obtained by Samoa News.

Dated September 21, Malemo was responding to a request from Magalei asking for a report on the pay differential in directors’ and deputy directors’ salaries for FY 2022 and FY 2023.

Magalei wrote to Malemo on September 19, that letter also obtained by Samoa News, and it outlines a request for information pertaining to the supplemental budget submitted recently for the Fono’s approval.

The Supplemental Budget bill seeks to appropriate $7.4 million for departments and agencies from unbudgeted, unobligated, and unexpended revenue from Fiscal Year 2022.

Magalei requested a report on the “pay differential in directors and deputy director’s salaries for FY 2022 and FY 2023; the total amount if the retroactive pay was for all directors and deputy directors; the funding source for these salaries, including the retroactive pay amounts.”

In response, Malemo provided “a report indicating the following, pay differential in Directors and Deputy Director’s salaries fr[om] FY 2022 and FY 2023; the total amount of the retroactive pay issued to all Directors and Deputy Directors by Department; the funding sources for these salary including the retroactive pay amounts.”

According to the documents, the highest increase of salary is $55,000 boosting the salary for the Administrative Law Judge from $75,000 to $130,000 per annum.

All the directors received a $15,000 boost taking their salaries to $85,000 while deputy directors salaries range from $62,000 to $78,000.

During a Senate session last week, Senator Magalei labeled the increase of salaries as an “illegal” move by the current Administration, pointing out  this is “concerning” for the Senate.

“The Government should not be using COVID funding to boost salaries for Government staff, these funds are temporary and will run out,” he said.

As reported earlier, Senator Magalei inquired about the increases in salaries for directors and deputy directors not included in the 2022 budget but now submitted in the current budget proposal for the new financial year.

Human Resources Director Lynn Pulou-Alaimalo explained the approval came from Governor Lemanu P.S. Mauga.

Magalei questioned the governor’s “authority” to approve the increases of salaries not included in the budgets for the departments.

 “We only approved increases of directors salaries [to] $75,000 however some directors are getting paid between $80,000 to $85,000 and again who authorized the increased in salaries, which was not included in the budget approved by the Fono?” asked Magalei.

Pulou-Alaimalo replied:, “It was per instructions from the governor.”

Adding that deputy directors also received pay raises and are now earning $75,000 — up from $70,000.

Magalei reminded the director the unbudgeted items including increases of salaries cannot be implemented as it’s “illegal” and that the department should follow the salaries in the budget approved by the legislature.

He said the Fono should call in the Governor’s Chief of Staff to explain the increases in salaries.

Click on attachment to download paperwork outlining Directors' and Deputy Directors' salary increases amounting to $2.9M