Govt unveils $4B budget for 2018
Inside the Parliament Chamber of Solomon Islands. Photo: Courtesy of Radio Australia
The Government said difficult but responsible decisions led to the more than $4 billion budget for 2018.
Minister of Finance and Treasury Manasseh Sogavare today presented the 2018 Appropriation Bill 2018 at its second reading in Parliament.
The recurrent budget was determined based on costed activities and deliverables for the year, Mr Sogavare said.
Given the total resource envelope for 2018, $26 million is set aside for unforeseen spending under the contingency warrant.
“The budget that I present today will deliver $4.068 billion in spending to provide the services to the people of Solomon Islands,” he said.
“The 2018 budget respects progress in the midst of adversity.”
He said some of the measures taken will hurt some ministries, but without those actions, the Government risks increasing its fiscal deficit, losing its credibility amongst stakeholders and losing taxpayers’ support.
The 2017 budget was $4.1 billion.
By Leni Dalavera