Freeze on annual increments for locally funded positions in American Samoa is lifted
Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — In a memo issued Tuesday, Gov. Lolo Matalasi Moliga lifted the freeze on annual increments for locally funded positions for Executive Branch employees, following a recommendation by the Annual Increment Team, headed by Lt. Gov. Lemanu Palepoi Sialega Mauga.
The governor said the panel has recommended to lift the ban, according to the memo forwarded to executive branch cabinet members. Samoa News notes that while there was a freeze on increments for locally funded positions, there was none on those funded by federal grants.
“This communique officially lifts the ban on the annual increments for locally funded positions to eliminate the disparity existing with federally funded positions,” Lolo wrote. “This decision is not made lightly, given our commitment to financial prudence and full accountability of all public funds.”
Moreover, the sacrifices which government employees have been making since FY 2013 “reflects our pledge and promise to contain government spending to actual revenues collected,” the governor points out. “It has been our operating philosophy not to execute a government-wide layoff or execute reduced working hours.”
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