American Samoa Proposes Big Budget Leap

Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Radio New Zealand International

The American Samoa governor, Togiola Tulafono, is proposing a huge budget increase in the coming year, raising it to close to 500 million US dollars.

The governor’s budget proposal would be nearly 115 million more than the current budget.

It was submitted to the Fono today.

Half the money is expected to come from federal grants and aid through the US Department of Interior.

The rest is from revenue generating agencies, such as the utility company.

The governor says local economic conditions have improved, with business activities in the canneries and others sectors projected to pick up.