Govt. Intends to Spend $380.36 Billion in 2007/08

For the 2007/08 Fiscal Year, the Government intends to spend some $380.36 billion on its Recurrent (house-keeping) and Capital (development) obligations.
Details of these projections are included in the 2007/08 Estimates of Expenditure, which were tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday (March 29), by Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Omar Davies.
When broken down, the figures show that the Government expects to spend just over $239.30 billion on the recurrent side of the Budget and $141.06 billion on the capital side.
Last year the net budget was projected at $358 billion. However, when the First Supplementary Estimates were tabled on February 27, a revised figure of $372 billion was presented.
In the new fiscal year, which begins on April 1, the Ministry of Finance and Planning gets the largest sum in the allocations with $124.51 billion for recurrent expenses and $109.24 billion for capital expenditure. Much of the amount will go towards meeting Jamaica’s debt obligations.
The Ministry of Education and Youth receives the second largest sum with $42.20 billion for recurrent expenses and $5.70 billion for capital spending. The Ministry of National Security gets $26.93 billion for recurrent expenditure and $2.31 billion for capital, while the Ministry of Health receives $20.10 billion for recurrent expenses and $902.79 million for capital projects. For the Ministry of Justice, $2.60 billion has been allocated for recurrent and $353.73 million for capital; and the Ministry of Local Government and Environment, $6.27 billion for recurrent and $685.20 million for capital expenses.
Allocations to other Ministries are: Agriculture and Lands, $3.54 billion recurrent, $2.12 billion capital; Industry, Technology, Energy and Commerce, $2.87 billion recurrent, $510.44 million capital; Housing, Transport, Water and Works, $1.95 billion recurrent, $15.80 billion capital; Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade, $2.35 billion recurrent, $58.74 million capital; Labour and Social Security, $1.51 billion recurrent, $1.47 billion capital; and the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture, $3.72 billion for recurrent and $105.41 million capital.
For the Office of the Prime Minister, $1.67 billion has been allocated for recurrent expenses and $774.96 million for capital; Office of the Cabinet, $828.69 million for recurrent and $1.39 billion for capital; Houses of Parliament, $505.23 million recurrent; Auditor General, $222.72 million recurrent; Office of the Services Commissions, $119.55 million recurrent; the Governor-General and Staff, $102.15 million recurrent; Office of the Public Defender, $48.50 million recurrent; Office of the Contractor General, $147.65 million recurrent; and Office of the Children’s Advocate, $32.56 million recurrent.
The Standing Finance Committee of the House will consider the Estimates of Expenditure from April 3 to 5, and Dr. Davies will open the Budget Debate on Thursday, April 12 at 2:00 p.m.