PAGO PAGO (Pacnews) — A call by American Samoa Sen. Alo Paul Stevenson to raise the salaries of the governor and lt. governor is being supported by his colleagues, Radio New Zealand International reports.
Alo said it’s time for a salary increase for the governor to $100,000 and the lt. governor to probably $95,000.
He said these new salaries should not include other benefits the leaders are entitled to.
The current salary of the governor is $85,000 annually while the lt. governor is at $75,000 and their salaries can only be increased by legislation.
These salary levels, which do not include perks and other benefits, were enacted by the territorial legislature, the Fono, in 2001 when the governor was earning $50,000 and his deputy $45,000.
Alo said chief executive officers of government semi-autonomous agencies are making more than what the governor and lt. governor are earning annually.
The other senators agreed with Alo’s suggestion and plan to review the matter soon.