Local Legislature passes reprogramming bill

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed in final reading their own respective versions of an appropriation bill that reprograms $578,500 from five different departments and special programs to cover budget overruns for the local Legislature and the Governor’s Office.

Upon approval by the Governor, the act will be effective immediately “due to the urgent need to assist in providing adequate funding for government operations.”

According to Governor Togiola’s letter to the Fono leadership earlier this month, budget estimates show that certain executive agencies are projected to have enough unexpended, unobligated revenue in order to cover overruns incurred at the Legislature as well as the Executive Office.

The measure says that $464,000 goes to the Fono ($58,602 for the current overrun and $405,398 for pay periods 25 and 26 including expense allowance), while $114,500 will go to the Governor’s Office. The funding will be from FY07 budgets of the following departments/programs: Department of Education ($215,000), Department of Public Safety ($118,000), Department of Port Administration ($80,000), Department of Legal Affairs ($30,000), Department of Health ($50,000), Special Programs - Summer youth activities ($85,000).

Any funds that are not expended at the end of FY08 must be reverted back to the general fund and may not be spent without subsequent appropriation.