Current Tapuitea

Tapuitea Online

DecemberNovemberOctober September August July

Press Releases

Tapuitea Print Version

Cash collections last month soar
far above the last two years

In Nov. 2005, the ASG collected only $4,741,796 in local funds. The following year in Nov. 2006, the ASG collected a little less than that - $4,479,725 to be exact.

But by Nov. 2007, ASG’s cash collections for local funds ballooned to $5,334,213, thanks in part to increases in collections by several ASG departments, agencies, and funding sources who not only collected more but also cut their spending.

A copy of the Treasury’s Monthly Financial Overview Report for November 2007 for local funds submitted to Governor Togiola Tulafono notes that revenue exceeded expenditures by nearly $150,000.

At the forefront with the highest increase in cash collections last month compared to the same time last year are the Port, which brought in $102,445 in Nov. 2006 and $435,912 in Nov. 2007, and the Customs Division of the Treasury Department which collected $1,777,114 in Nov. 2006 and skyrocketed to $2,028,479 last month.

Impressive collection efforts were noted from the Road Maintenance Fund which collected nothing in Nov. 2005 and Nov. 2006 but brought in $53,359 last month.

Even traffic violations brought in $3,795 last month, after failing to collect a penny in Nov. 2005 and Nov. 2006.

The Tax Office increased collections to $1,397,341, up from the $1,068,327 it brought in during Nov. 2006.

Other notable collection increases came from the following funding sources:

                                     
ASG comptroller Brian Mix said that increases in cash collections and decreases in spending are needed in order to help the government’s finances which he says “could be much better.”