American Samoa governor expected to talk about financial turnaround

American Samoa's governor is expected to highlight the government's positive financial status during his State of the Territory Address today.

Speaking at his last cabinet meeting, Lolo Matalasi Moliga told members that one of the biggest issues to talk about is the turnaround in government finances.

The governor said when he took office in January 2013 there was a deficit of $US7.8 million that his administration was forced to absorb.

Lolo said at the close of the financial year 2013 the deficit had dropped to $US4.2 million.

However, in the next financial year the government pushed through a number of infrastructure projects resulting in the deficit increasing again.

But Lolo said over the last two financial years the government had been a positive position and this continued at the close of the 2018 year.

"As of September 30th we are at positive $US3.8 million, $US3.9 million. Right now, we have paid off most of our debts. The only obligations we have were up to 60 - 120 days. There were no bills behind the 120 days."