Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The Fono will convene next week Monday, July 12th, in a joint session for the opening of the Second Regular Session of the 37th Legislature, with Gov. Lemanu Peleti Palepoi Sialega Mauga scheduled to address lawmakers at the Fono Guest Fale, the current temporary chamber for the Senate.

The governor is required by local statute to deliver the State of the Territory Address to a joint Fono session in January every year. In past years, a sitting governor would address lawmakers in July or during special sessions, after communications with Fono leaders, when there are important issues that the Administration wants to share with lawmakers.

Fono staffers and a handful of lawmakers confirmed yesterday to Samoa News that the governor will address the joint session on July 12th and two lawmakers say they were informed during a meeting with Fono leaders last week that the governor had requested to deliver a special address on “issues of importance”.

During a cabinet meeting last month, the governor mentioned a request to Fono leaders to attend the opening of the Fono and discuss financial matters. It was also revealed at the cabinet meeting by the Budget Office that the proposed FY 2022 budget — which begins Oct. 1st — would maintain the current ceiling of $110 million for local revenue while grants depend on what’s coming in from federal grantors.

Priority legislation for lawmakers to consider, review and vote on during this time of the Fono session is the next fiscal year’s government budget. For FY 2022, the Administration wants is send it to the Fono when lawmakers convene next week but no new information was available yesterday as to whether this will happen.

ASG officials told Samoa News on Thursday that the governor wants to provide an update on the government’s financial condition, expectations for the new fiscal year — especially with the millions of dollars coming in under the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of more than $140 million.

Among issues that lawmakers plan to address with the Administration is the pay hikes for career service employees that became effective July 1st. The question by the lawmakers is whether or not the administration will be able to sustain these salary increases in the future once ARPA money is gone.

Some lawmakers are also planning to seek several ASG financial reports next week, and especially important is that the reports are updated prior to planning any budget committee hearings.

Aside from the proposed FY 2021 budget, the Administration has nominations to ASG boards and commissions that will be considered by lawmakers.