Fono overran budget but cut spending last month
compared to same time last year
Last month, the Fono was scrambling to meet payroll and issue allowance checks for lawmakers using limited funds reshuffled from the operating budgets of other ASG departments and programs to cover their overrun. But surprisingly, the local Legislature actually decreased it spending compared to the same time in the last two years.
According to the Treasury Department’s Monthly Financial Overview Report for local funds, in September 2007, the Fono expended a total of $477,590, a big drop from the $654,665 it spent in September 2006 and $812,231 worth of recorded expenses in September 2005.
The House of Representatives led the way with $177,728 in spending last month, followed closely by the Senate with $164,494
The Legislative Reference Bureau expended $69,163 while the Legislative Finance Office spent $64,859
No money was spent on Fono repairs but rounding up the list were computer expenses that totaled $1,347
The Treasury Department’s Monthly Financial Overview Report pertains to local funds and details how much the American Samoa Government collected in revenue, how much was spent, the budgeted revenues and expenditures, and how each ASG department, agency, and other funding source(s) fared in collections versus expenditures for that month. (See separate articles printed earlier this month for full details).
The report was prepared by ASG Treasurer Velega Savali and submitted to Governor Togiola Tulafono.
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