Acting Treasurer Carri-Lee Magalei-Tulafono told a hearing of the House Budget and Appropriation Committee Monday she does not know where the funding for the administration’s supplemental appropriations of $744,000 will come from.

She also said that the bill that was submitted by the administration was a reprogramming and not a supplemental. And Budget Director Tauaisafune Niualama Taifane requested that the bill be withdrawn as there are things which need to be worked out first and which they need to discuss with the Governor.

Committee Chairman Rep Vailoata Amituana’i and House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale asked if the funding that the Fono reduced or removed totally from the salaries of directors has been used.

The Budget Director replied that the funding has not been used, that the money still remains in the budget. The Speaker followed up so you mean to say that the directors whose salaries were reduced or removed from the budget have not been paid?

The Acting Treasurer gave this response.

Play Audioalready-spent

The Budget Director pointed out there were some positions for which salaries were reduced in the budget and some salaries were totally removed. She said the salaries that had been removed were paid. She added that they followed what was approved by the Fono.

The Speaker pointed out however that the Fono had cut $734,000 from the salaries of certain agencies headed by those with director titles but had not been submitted to the Fono for confirmation. Further these salaries were at the same level as directors who are confirmed. He said the budget law has been violated since the salaries have been paid.

He also questioned the source of funds to cover the proposed supplemental budget when the government’s financial report shows that revenues fell far short of projections. The Acting Treasurer…

Play Audio i-dont-know

Speaker Savali was of the opinion that the administration was just trying to get authorization for money it had already spent.

The Budget Director then requested the committee chairman to withdraw the bill at this time.

Representative Trude Ledoux-Sunia said the same director titles were in the new fiscal year budget and there are salary increases across the board for directors. She asked if someone else was involved in compiling the budget.

Play Audiotrude-control-budget

Rep Fiu Johnny Saelua followed up if the two officials had any part in putting together the supplemental budget bill.

The Acting Treasurer replied.

Play Audiocarrie-lee-no

The Budget Director said her answer was the same as the Acting Treasurer’s response.

Committee Chairman Rep Vailoata said the responses from the two officials have made it easy for the committee to reach a decision on the bill.

After the witnesses were excused the Committee voted to recommend that the bill be rejected in second reading.