Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The proposed budget of the Department of Health, which is at the core of the fight against COVID-19 in the territory alongside the COVID-19 Task Force staff, increases by $5.03 million — from $10.10 million in 2022 to $15.17 million in 2023.

The total fiscal year 2023 final budget is capped at $693,415,535 reflecting an increase if $140,630,435 or 25 percent above the fiscal year 2022 aggregate budget of $522,785.

Local revenue to be collected is $117 million, while grants allocated is 49 % or $341 million; enterprise funding is $223 million and Capital Improvements amount to $10 million.

For expenditures, $84,543,000 is for salaries; $3.1 million for materials and supplies, while contractual services is $17 million and $891,500 for travel; $11 million allocated under “others” and $586,500 for equipment.

A total of 36 positions are funded locally and 366 funded by the federal government.

According to the budget, total of $1.77 million is local funding and $13.3 million from federal grants. Close to $3 million is allocated for materials and supplies; $3.40 million for contractual services and $653,500 for travel, an increase from last year’s travel amount of $547,000.

Under all others there is $10 million proposed whereas last year’s was $3.64 million, however equipment has reduced from $3 million to $173,500.

For the new financial year the Department’s budget under the appropriated fund accounts, sees a reduction in staff from 62 to 39 for the new fiscal year for the Director’s office.

Its final budget for the appropriated fund accounts is from $2.62 million in 2022 to $2.72 million in proposed budget. In 2021, budget for salaries was $2.13 million.

Under contractual services, there is a proposal of $50,000 for Air Conditioning and maintenance; $85,000 for medical equipment services and $120,000 for landscaping and maintenance for all five location sites. For the fiber internet for electronic health a total of $75,000 is allocated to BlueSky.

According to the proposed budget, $1.24 million is set aside for the Manu’a evacuation, recertification of fees for doctors and nurses, equipment and purchasing of vehicles and overtime.

Also included in the budget is the Annual Grantor Conference program of Division Heads whereas the airfares allocated is $7,000; per diem also $7,000 and total amount of $14,000.