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ASG 1St Quarter Report Contract awarded to fix issue of the “Mormon Lake” in Ottoville PAGE - 2 President Trump’s first budget boosts military, cuts domestic programs PAGE - 8 Avea pea tupe ma fa’afitauli tuai ona fa’aleleia galuega Surrounded by her children, Mrs. Hinanui Hunkin, holding the folded U.S Flag that tetele atunu’u Le Lali draped the coffin of her husband, the late former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin during burial service on Mar. 11 at the Provo Cemetery in Provo, Utah. [photo: Aoelua] C M Y K ONLINE @ SAMOANEWS.COM DAILY CIRCULATION 7,000 PAGO PAGO, AMERICAN SAMOA THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2017 $1.00 ASG 1st quarter report — Fono only branch overspending its budget By Fili Sagapolutele paign promises to improve the nation’s booklet form, was recently sent to the gotten’. Additionally, there are talks of Samoa News Correspondent economy, according to ASG Budget and Fono, with many lawmakers getting their a possible stimulus in the vicinity of up espite impending uncertain- Planning Office director Catherine D. copies. to $600 billion for infrastructure proj- ties and challenges due to Saelua, in a Feb. 13 letter to Gov. Lolo Saelua, in her letter, explained that ects and tax cuts for corporations and the closing of Samoa Tuna Matalasi Moliga, which also accompa- Trump’s plan would increase eco- individuals. Processors Inc. cannery and nied the ASG First quarter performance nomic output up to 4% thereby creating “Exactly when and how the Presi- theD new administration of US President report for fiscal year 2017 — covering job growth especially in the depressed dent is going to roll out his plan to the Donald Trump, there is hope that the the period of Oct. 1, 2016- Dec. 31, 2017. beltway areas — in the U.S where people White House will make good on its cam- A copy of the report, which is in a are unemployed and have been ‘for- (Continued on page 2) C M Y K The U.S Flag draped the oak wood coffin of the late former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin, which was accompanied by a military honor guard, at Provo Cemetery in Provo, Utah on Mar. 11 for his burial service. Faleomavaega passed away Feb. 22 at his home in Provo at the age of 73. The flag was presented to Faleo- mavaega’s widow, Mrs. Hinanui Hunkin by the military honor guard. [l-r] Congresswoman Aumua Amata, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, Senate President Gaoteote Tofau Palaie, Interior’s Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Nikolao Pula and Sen. Fai’ivae Iuli Godinet were some of the dignitaries that attended the burial service of the late former Congressman Faleomavaega Eni Hunkin on Mar. 11 at the Provo Cemetery in Provo, Utah. [photos: Aoelua] Page 2 samoa news, Thursday, March 16, 2017 $92.6 million,” she explained. ➧ “Given that no unusual circum- ASG 1st quarter... stances occur during the course Continued from page 1 of this fiscal year, we expect states and territories remains to forecasted spending trend in FY be seen,” Saelua said, adding 2017 to be rather consistent with that one notable action, that the previous fiscal year.” American Samoa is grateful for And with budget contain- is Trump’s withdrawal of the ment measures currently in United States from the Trans place, “I am highly optimistic Pacific Partnership Agreement we will contain our spending “thereby helping our cannery to be in line with our revenue stay competitive.” collection in compliance with For ASG, Saelua said the the Anti-Deficiency Act and first quarter ended “on an opti- achieve a balance budget,” she mistic note” with the Executive, said. Judicial and Special Programs She also wrote that although all operating within their 1st current revenue collection has quarter budget apportionment been slow in the first quarter, — except for the Legislature. the Treasury Department has Of the total $108.16 mil- given “their assurances that lion for local funds approved there is sufficient cash flow in under the FY 2017 budget, total our revenue pool to meet our expenditures at the end of the expenses,” she added. first quarter came to $24.12 mil- Of the total $24.1 million in lion — with Executive Branch expenditures in the first quarter, total expenditures at $17.28 mil- 71.2% went to personnel costs, lion (or 25%); Judicial Branch 15% to “others”, 8.9% for con- expenditures total $573,481 tractual services; 3.4% supplies (20%); Fono expenditures $1.93 and services; and the rest in million (or 28%); and Special travel and equipment, according Program expenditures $4.34 to the letter. million (or 15%), according Treasury’s 1st quarter perfor- to data included in the Budget mance report, which is included Director’s cover letter. with all the other agencies’ Overall, total local funds reports in a booklet sent to the expenditure incurred in the first governor and the Fono, does quarter is 22% of the approved not provide a breakdown on $108.01 million, reflecting a revenues collected in the first 3% savings of the normal quar- quarter. terly budget threshold of 25%, The Lolo Administration according to Saelua’s letter. has not included such informa- “In fact, given our current tion in the report for the past spending rate of $24.1 mil- three years, although the Fono lion this quarter, our year end can request a report of revenue estimates of total expenditures collections directly to Treasury incurred is projected to be about Department. President Donald Trump shakes hands with singer Lee Greenwood as Greenwood sings “God Bless the USA” at a rally Wednesday, March 15, 2017, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey) AMERICAN SAMOA RUNAWAY & HOMELESS YOUTH SHELTER 699-HELP(4357) ARE YOU UNDER 18 AND NEED Contract awarded to fix A PLACE TO STAY? DO YOU FEEL UNSAFE AT HOME? CALL 699-4357(HELP), issue of the “Mormon MESSAGE us on Facebook (Pasefika Youth Project), or EMAIL [email protected]. ALL contacts and information are strictly Lake” in Ottoville CONFIDENTIAL. by Fili Sagapolutele the contract is now being walked through for sig- Remember to call 911 if you have an emergency. Samoa News Correspondent natures and the plan at this point is for the issu- The government has awarded a contract to a ance of a Notice to Proceed later this month or construction company for repair and improve- early next month. ments to the drainage for the area of the road She said that once the notice is issued, the NOFOAGA SULUFA’I MO LE PUIPUIGA O in Ottoville, in front of the Mormon Church, contractor would start the work. And this is good FANAU TALAVOU A AMERIKA SAMOA that during rains creates a large pool of water— news for lawmakers, who were pleased with the 699-HELP(4357) known as the “Mormon Lake.” update, as the “Mormon Lake” is known to be a Public Works director Faleosina Voigt, hazard for motorists using this road. Afai e le i atoa lou 18 tausaga ae ua mana’omia during her Senate confirmation hearing last It wasn’t immediately clear as to the total cost se nofoaga malu puipuia e te fia sulufa’i iai... month revealed that they were working on get- of the project and the funding source. ting this road area fixed and the bid had gone out Also on yesterday’s hearing agenda, is Ua lagona le le malu puipuia o with the contract to be awarded soon. the flooded road area around Samoa Baptist lou soifuaga i totonu o lou aiga? Voigt provided the latest update during a Academy and Voigt said there is not funding VALA’AU MAI! 699-4357(HELP)! House Public Works Committee hearing yes- available for repair and improvement for this terday chaired by Rep. Vui Florence Saulo. drainage system. Additionally, Public Works is Po o le fa’afeso’ota’i mai i le Facebook (Pasefika Youth And one of the items on the hearing’s agenda also working on the “right of way” issue with Project) po’o le email [email protected]. deals with the Mormon road “lake” issue, which landowners on the road area, which is also O faamatalaga ma fesootaiga uma, o le a malu puipuia. has become a major complaint from lawmakers, flooded during heavy rain, in the Happy Valley the public and ASG officials over the years. area of Tafuna. Ia manatua e valaau le 911 mo so’o se faalavelave Voigt said the project had gone out for bid At this point, she said the vacuum truck is dis- faafuasei e ono aafia ai le soifua maloloina o soo se tasi. and the contract, which is for about 9 months, patched to pump out water when these roads are had been awarded to R.M Construction. She said flooded. samoa news, Thursday, March 16, 2017 Page 3 FONO REPORT: Marriage congrats, TBAS, scanner radiation, Tausani Airlines … by Samoa News staff media is currently covering viewers would tune in to see the Following a three-week the Fono, but the media selects latest drama unfold as faipule recess, the Fono reconvened which issues are reported from would drill ASG and non-ASG on Monday, with the House the House. witnesses over alleged misuse offering congratulations to Vui also suggested having a of government funds, with Speaker Savali Talavou Ale, House bulletin published daily, some fiery discussions ensuing who got married off island, which would outline work by between witnesses and faipule. during the break. It was Rep. lawmakers and could be distrib- Also raised in the House Vui Florence Saulo who made uted to the public. on Tuesday is the status of the the announcement of the Savali acknowledged the new MV Manu’atele vessel Speaker tying the knot.
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