ASPA’s proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2026 is $113.2 million up from $107.5 million for the current fiscal year.
The number of employees increases from 439 to 444 of whom 19 are contract employees while the rest are local hires.
According to the budget breakdown $17.2 million goes to personnel services, $46.9 million for Materials and Supplies, Contractual Services uses up $34,072,5000, $409,500 is allocated for Travel, Equipment is budgeted at $2.2 million and the All Others category totals $12.2 million.
Testifying on ASPA’s budget before the joint legislative budget hearings were ASPA CEO Wallon Young and Customer Service Manager Ryan Tuatoo.
ASPA’s account receivables total $11 million of which $2.5 million is debt owed by ASG. According to Young the American Samoa Community College is six months behind on its utility bill while LBJ Hospital owes 2-3 months in unpaid bills.
Young explained that due to a drop in collections some of their locally funded projects have been delayed.
Regarding streetlights, he reported that 1,000 new streetlights are scheduled to arrive next month.
Asked about efforts by ASPA to replace off island engineers with locals , the CEO said that this is the purpose of its apprenticeship program which is sending trainees to New Zealand for training. He said ASPA had discontinued the apprenticeship program in the past and this is why there has been a shortage of locals to fill engineer positions
Questions were asked about savings from alternative energy projects such as the solar projects in Manu’a.
According to Young the customer base in Manu’a is small so there has not been much impact on savings. However he expects that when the 20 megawatt solar project on Tutuila is on line at the end of the year there should be a drop in power rates.
Rep Sauasetoa Ho Ching asked the CEO if it was true that the cost of the wind farm project would double in price. This was part of the CEO’s response.
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The CEO explained that ASPA carried out a job evaluation in early 2025 and as a result of that study the authority has carried out a $2.6 million salary increase for rank and file employees. No managers or engineers just rank and file. He said apprentices start at $9 an hour while the starting salary of carpenters and welders is $11 an hour.
Young told the hearing that ASPA has passed all tests for the microfiltration plant at Malaeimi however because of the USEPA’s process , the boil water notice has still not been lifted. But he said as far as ASPA is concerned the water is safe to drink. However USEPA must give its stamp of approval before the Boil Water Notice is lifted.
