Treasurer Ueligatone Tonumaipe’a believes that the Governor and Lt Governor’s salaries should be increased to $125,000 and $100,000 respectively, and he said this during a House hearing before the Budget and Appropriations committee yesterday morning.

He explained that for the last three years there’s been an increase of revenue collections from 5% to 20% and that the increase in revenue is enough for the salary increases.

Last week, a bill, sponsored by Reps. Maugaoali’i Leapai T. Anoa’i and Fatulegae’e Palepoi Mauga, was submitted to increase the governor and lt. governor’s salaries from $85,00 to $125,000 and $75,000 to $100,000, respectively.

The bill also says that each former governor shall be entitled for the remainder of his life to receive from ASG a monetary allowance at the rate per annum of 60% of his highest salary during his last year in office, payable monthly by the Treasurer of ASG.

However that allowance is not payable for any period during which such former governor holds an appointive or elective office or position in or under ASG or the federal government to which is attached a rate of pay other than a nominal rate.

The proposed bill further says the surviving spouse of each governor shall be entitled to receive from ASG a monetary allowance at the rate per annum of 30% of the former governor’s highest salary during his last year in office, payable monthly by the Treasurer of ASG. The widow would stop getting the allowance if she remarries or for the period of time she holds an appointive or elective office and gets paid more than a nominal rate.

(Samoa News notes the bill uses the word “widow” when referring to “surviving spouse of each former Governor”, denoting that it will be a “she”.)

Vice Speaker, Talia Fa’afetai I’aulualo asked about the allowances received by the governor and his wife when their tenure is over, and the Treasurer said that Governor gets 60% of his salary and 30% of his salary will go to his wife, if the governor passes on.

Talia is concerned that if the Fono does approve the increase for the governor’s salary to $125,000, he will get 60% of that when he leaves office, along with his wife. He asked the Treasurer if there’s a chance that they can change the percentage to 50% for governor and 25% for his wife. However the Treasurer urged the committee not to make any new changes to the current law, but maybe in the near future, depending on the economy.

(The Treasurer is referring to current statute — 4.0110 Compensation and perquisites-Allowances for former Governor and surviving spouses- “Former Governor” defined. The new bill calls for the same percentage amounts for the allowances listed in this statute, with the only changes are in annual salary amounts.)

Rep. Fetu Fetui Jr motioned to change the governor’s salary to $160,000 for governor and $120,000 for Lt. Governor, however his motion was not honored by the Budget and Appropriations Committee.

The Treasurer also pointed out that if the Fono moves forward with increasing the Governor and Lt. Governor’s salaries, there should be additional budget appropriated for this new change.

The hearing was postponed as the committee wants to summon someone from the Governor’s office to answer these questions and concerns.

For example, Rep. Taotasi Archie Soliai is concerned that these increases may affect the salaries of those working in the governor’s office, or other government employees. He further stated that — in case the Fono approves this at the beginning of the new fiscal year 2015 — there is no funding allocated for this.

The bill notes that funding for the allowances would come out of the Governor’s Office budget.