2026/27 Citizens’ Budget Guide to Be Released In March

The 2026/27 Citizens’ Guide to the National Budget will be released to the public by the end of March.

The document provides Jamaicans with a clear, accessible overview of the Government’s expenditure plans for the upcoming financial year.

Produced by the Ministry of Finance and the Public Service, the publication simplifies the complex and technical details of the National Budget into clear, non technical language, enabling citizens to better understand how public funds are raised and spent.

According to the Public Expenditure Division (PED) of the Ministry, the guide was first developed in 2019 to help citizens better understand the budget process and increase public awareness of the policies, programmes and projects implemented by ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) that affect their daily lives.

One of the publication’s key features is its explanation of commonly used economic terms such as growth, debt, interest and amortisation.

By breaking down these concepts, the guide enables Jamaicans to follow discussions more easily on the National Budget and the broader economic issues that shape government decision making.

Through the publication, citizens can see how contributions such as the General Consumption Tax (GCT) and customs duties help to fund government programmes and services.

For example, taxes paid on goods and services, or duties charged on items ordered online and cleared through the ports, form part of the revenue used to support national development and essential public services.

The guide also explains how the Government allocates resources throughout the financial year. This includes funding for critical services such as paying public sector salaries, purchasing medicines for hospitals, providing social assistance through engagements such as the Programme of Advancement Through Health and Education (PATH), and undertaking road construction and repairs.

By presenting this information in an accessible format, the publication helps citizens understand the relationship between government revenues and expenditures, as well as the overall cost of operating the Central Government.

In addition to outlining revenues and expenditures, the guide explains the role of loans in financing the National Budget.

It also highlights government spending priorities and provides updates on select initiatives and ongoing programmes.

To make complex information more engaging and user friendly, the publication incorporates charts, graphs, and other visual elements.

The PED emphasises that transparency and accountability are central to the purpose of the publication.

By presenting budget information in a simplified format, the guide enables citizens to see how the Government plans to use public resources and assess the outcomes of its policies and programmes.

The publication also promotes more informed public discussion on National Budget matters and strengthens citizens’ capacity to hold the Government accountable for the management of public finances.

Additionally, the guide enables citizens to see the financial allocations made to each MDA and to better interpret the discussions that take place during the Budget and Sectoral debates.

The 2026/27 edition of the Citizens’ Guide to the National Budget, along with previous editions, will be available on the Finance Ministry’s website at www.mof.gov.jm.