American Samoa faces major financial challenges — many beyond local control
Federal disaster assistance for local residents impacted by Tropical Storm Gita helped cushion the blows that have impacted the local economy in recent years, but the economy continues to remain volatile, affecting American Samoa Government revenue collection for the current fiscal year 2018, says ASG Office of Program Planning and Budget director Catherine D. Saelua in her FY 2019 budget call letter, sent out earlier this month to all Executive Branch departments and agencies. The call letter, which was also approved by Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga, asked directors to set the ceiling for FY 2019 at the same point set for FY 2018, as American Samoa continues to face major challenges to the local economy that are beyond local control. “In spite of our best efforts to minimize adverse impacts of the highly competitive fishing industry to our local cannery operation and other market forces beyond our control on our economy, major challenges will persist — exacerbated by proposed changes and reductions to our Department of Interior Grant-In-Aid and other non-defense federal grants,” Saelua said. Additionally, the “volatile conditions of our economy will directly impact our local revenue base and further undermine our attempts to address the growing needs of our people.”
