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LBJ: higher salaries, fewer employees, less supplies

Hospital Chief Executive Officer Taufete’e John Faumuina confirmed to the Fono during the budget hearing for the hospital held last week that he’s not really happy with the high salaries of hospital officials, given that some of them make more than the physicians, but said it’s somewhat difficult to question the salaries already set by previous management, because he doesn't want the hospital employees to think he has a bad heart.

 

Taufete’e was responding to a question posed by Manu’a faipule Vesi Talalelei Fautanu, who compared the salaries of the hospital’s Plant Manager Director to the physicians who are the backbone of the hospital. The salary in question is $91,104 per year.

 

Vesi pointed out to the hospital CEO this is one of the problems the hospital is facing with their budget — the high salaries of those working at the hospital, yet there are not enough funds allocated for the medical services provided by the hospital for everyone’s healthcare.

 

He went on to say the hospital should consider reducing the salaries to free up some more funding to better the services provided by the hospital, or purchase more medicine and supplies for the hospital.

 

However, Taufete’e stated that there are old debts the hospital is still trying to pay off with the companies who are providing the medical supplies and that’s why currently, it’s payment first, and then the supplies will be sent.

 

The LBJ CEO pointed out that if the hospital does receive its subsidy from the local government along with the revenue from their daily operations, he believes the hospital operations will run smoothly.

 

The hospital’s proposed budget sees a reduction in the hospital’s workforce of over 100+ employees, however the proposed salaries have increased by $1.6million for FY2016 — fiscal year 2015 workforce salaries amounted to $26.85million, while for next year the proposed budget is at $28.45million.

 

Another reduction in the budget is for material and supplies, which has been reduced by $5.40million. For FY2015 the approved budget for the supplies and materials was $15.18million for FY2016 it’s $9.77million. The proposed budget goes on to say that for contractual services, the decrease is down $1.39million.

 

Also indicated in the hospital budget is that the CEO makes $119,995, however there is no indication in the budget as to how much the Assistant CEO is making, but what it does indicate is the vehicle assigned to the Assistant CEO. Only three employees are noted in CEO’s office, in the proposed budget. They are the grantor coordinator, the secretary and assistant secretary.

 

Other salaries include the Medical Director making $137,835 while his Assistant makes $99,590; for the Dialysis Administrator, the salary is $73,403.20; the HR director $73,403, Assistant HR Director $65,541; Information Services Director $70,514, Assistant Director $65,540; and the Plant Manager Director $91,104.