Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — After three postponements, the final review of the FY 2025 budget eventually took place at the Senate chamber last Friday, where the Joint Budget & Appropriations Committee agreed to adopt amendments proposed by the House of Representatives.

The amendments were passed by a vote of 14 to 11.

The hearing was opened by Co-Chairman Senator Utu Sila Poasa who had returned from off-island and he announced the amendments to the budget that the Senate had agreed to.

That is, to reduce the local revenue portion of the budget from $165.2 million to $136 million, and reduce the governor's Special Programs budget from $32.6 million to just $18 million, which would include earmarks of $6 million for Medicaid and $1 million for the dedication of the new Fono building.

The Senate had also proposed to add $45,000 to the budget of the Office of Samoan Affairs to raise the salaries of the three District Governors to $75,000.

However, the House stuck to the original amount that was proposed for Special Programs but with some changes.

Faipule Vailoata Eteuati Amituanai presented the House amendments to the Special Programs budget.

He proposed that $1 million be added to the American Samoa Community College budget. An allocation of $500,000 will come from the $3 million allocated for Island Beautification, and another $500,000 will come from the $1.5 million for the Samoa Land Development.

The House also proposed that $300,000 be deducted from the Manu'a Development and Maintenance allocation of $2.5 million to be used for transportation for Manu'a and Swains islands.

Senator Utu Sila Poasa, the co-chairman of the Budget & Appropriations Committee, expressed his support for the House amendments. However, he emphasized that decisions regarding the spending plan should be grounded in realistic revenue projections.

He stated that the Senate does not believe the projected local revenues in the new fiscal year budget are achievable.

However, House Speaker Savali Talavou Ale countered by saying that the administration is confident in its ability to collect the projected revenues, and he urged the Fono to trust their assessment.

Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said that the Senate will not change its position, but rather than have an extended discussion which may take all day, they should take a vote by a show of hands. The vote ended with 14 voting to adopt the House changes to the budget while 11 voted against.

Samoa News understands all faipule present during the joint session voted for the adoption of the amendments, with one senator, Sen. Poumele Pete Poumele Galea’i joining them.

Two senators, that would have made a total of 14 senators present during the amendment vote, excused themselves after the Senate session, not staying for the joint budget session. They were Sens. Togiola Tulafono and Muagututi’a Moevasa Tauoa — both from Su’a District.

These are the only changes that will be included in the final budget bill that each chamber will vote on separately, scheduled for this week.

The FY2025 budget, if passed ‘as is’ — will be for the amount of $165.2 million.