 29 Nov. - 5 Dec. 2000 |
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Budget 2001 Enhancing the public sector’s sustainability In Part One of a series of two, The Business Times takes a look at public expenditure and revenue provisions that have emerged as a result of Budget 2001. Among all the ministries and government departments, the most apparent and common rises in expenditure have stemmed from contributions toward the National Plan for the Adoption of the Acquis (NPAA) and increases to wages, allowances and social security contributions of employees. 
Foreign Affairs Minister Joe BorgForeign Affairs Ministry Revenue intake at the Foreign Affairs Ministry next year is expected to match this year’s estimated Lm46,000 – revenue mainly gained through payments attributable to attestations, permits, certificates and other related services. An increase of Lm2,000 - to Lm31,000 - will be attributed to the category above while a reduction of Lm3,000 (Lm5,000 to Lm2,000). The largest rise in the recurrent expenditure category has taken place in staff salaries and wages, which will rise next year by Lm487,000 to a total of Lm2.506 million next year from this year’s approved estimate of Lm2.018 million. Recurrent expenditure, as a whole, is due to rise by close to Lm1 million – from Lm7.204 million this year to Lm8.136 million next year. However, this figure is way up from 1999’s allocation of Lm5.911 million. The ministry’s repair and upkeep category has been supplemented by Lm7,000 (Lm81,000 next year) while rent was bolstered by Lm98,000 – next year reaching Lm831,000. The expense of international memberships has been increased by Lm145,000 – to Lm520,000 and travel expenses have been cut by Lm52,000 – to Lm348,000. Meanwhile hospitality has been reduced by Lm14,500 to Lm52,000 next year. Expenses attributable to equipment have been raised by Lm14,000 to a total of 70,000 for 2001. The ministry will also contribute Lm37,000 toward the NPAA. Fewer requirements in the fields of relocating embassies and through a decline in acquisition of properties overseas will next year lead to a decrease in capital expenditure by close to Lm125,000 from last year’s Lm610,000 to next year’s estimate of Lm487,000. 
Justice
and Local Council Minister Austin GattJustice and Local Government Ministry Justice This section is expected to gain over Lm100,000 in extra revenue over last year’s amount - mainly through a hike in the cost of court fees – which is expected to raise close to Lm100,000. However, revenue slashes have occurred in legal costs and fees (Lm14,000 – next year Lm6,000), and court fines (Lm50,000 – next year 600,000). The section’s recurrent expenditure, meanwhile, will also rise – by over Lm0.5 million. Close to half that amount, Lm245,000, will go toward the NPAA, while operational and maintenance expenses will account for a further rise of some Lm200,000 – most notably through a rise in transportation expenses, from Lm26,000 last year to Lm197,000 next year. Expenses have been cut in the form of materials, supplies, repair and upkeep (Lm46,000), and in contributions to the Malta Arbitration Centre (Lm20,000) Local Councils This section, with a total allocation next year of Lm10.599 million, is expected to reduce its recurrent costs by close to Lm280,000 next year. A rise in cost of close to Lm70,000 for holders of political office will be counteracted by a drop in operational costs – implemented through cuts to transport (Lm17,000), information services (Lm11,000) and contractual services (Lm52,000). Judicial While a sharp drop of some Lm350,000 in operational and maintenance costs was registered in Budget 2001 – mainly through a reduction in transportation costs of close to Lm270,000 – the judicial section is still estimated to rise by Lm178,000 next year. Contributing to the rise is growth in funds allocated for salaries for those holding political office of some Lm310,000, while a new expense of Lm50,000 for the NPAA and Lm30,000 for related to the family court will also be absorbed by the section. Office services have been cut by Lm15,000 to Lm75,000 and transport has been cut by Lm172,000 to Lm58,000. Total capital expenditure, meanwhile, will rise by some Lm110,000 – the most significant portion of which is attributable to new offices for judges and magistrates – Lm120,000 this year while last year’s expenditure in the category had amounted to Lm30,000. The transfer of registries, also, will cost the ministry some Lm60,000 next year while halls for the family court will cost Lm40,000 next year. 
Health
Minister Loius DeguaraHealth Ministry The Health Ministry next year will gain Lm25,000 in revenue as a result of reimbursements for hospital fees but will incur recurrent expenses some Lm6.5 million higher than those incurred last year. Staff salary and wages will rise next year by close to Lm4.5 million while staff allowances will also rise by an additional Lm1.2 million. Materials and supplies have been cut by Lm500,000 to Lm11.9 million for next year while training expenses have been cut by Lm68,000 to Lm232,000. Travel expenses have also been slashed by Lm13,000 to Lm67,000. Specialised treatment of Maltese locally and abroad has been cut by Lm35,000 to Lm390,000 while a whopping Lm946,000 will be spent of the NPAA next year. The construction of the new hospital will, next year, will cost the Health Ministry Lm2 million more than it had last year, with next year’s tally expected to run at Lm16 million. Total capital expenditure will raise next year by a total of Lm1.631 million next year. Meanwhile upgrading works at St Luke’s have been cut by Lm60,000 and accordingly Lm240,000 will be spent in this respect next year. Equipment expenses at St Luke’s has also been cut by Lm230,000 next year to Lm370,000 
Gozo
Minister Jiovanna DebonoGozo Ministry As a result of a decline in services rendered to local councils, the Gozo Ministry will reap a total of Lm116,000 next year – a figure Lm32,000 lower than the previous year’s. Recurrent expenses, meanwhile, will rise by more than Lm2 million as a result of additional staff salaries and wages. Capital expenditure, meanwhile, will amount to Lm100,000 next year – the same tally as that of this year. 
Agriculture
and Fisheries Minister Ninu Zammit
Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry Through a reduction in services rendered to local councils, the Agriculture and Fisheries Ministry will se a drop of Lm20,000 in revenue next year – compared to last year’s Lm472,000. Through staff salaries and wages and programmes and initiatives, this ministry next year will raise its recurrent expenditure by Lm1.353. Through the former, expenditure will rise by Lm569,000 and the latter will account for an extra Lm717,000 through its contribution to the NPAA. The cost of transport was reduced by Lm20,000 to Lm302,000, travel was cut buy Lm7,000and hospitality was cut by Lm2,000 to Lm6,000. Capital expenditure will be upped by more than Lm1 million – mainly as a result of further agricultural programmes for the adoption of the acquis, which will cost the ministry Lm1 million next year. Assistance to fishermen and farmers was cut by Lm25,000 to Lm50,000, agricultural marketing facilities were cut by Lm40,000 to Lm100,000 and plant biotechnology centre costs were also cut by Lm40,000 to Lm100,000. 
Home
Affairs Minister Tonio BorgHome Affairs Ministry Total revenue for the Home Affairs Ministry next year will rise by Lm250,000 next year – with the majority of the boost stemming from public registry fees (Lm150,000) land registry fees (Lm20,000) and through reimbursements on sales of printed forms and plans from the land registry (Lm9,000). This comes despite the fact that police will suffer a reduction in revenue from traffic offence tickets of Lm100,000 – now reduced to Lm100,000 and fees on visa will be reduced by Lm50,000 to Lm300,000. The sale of government-owned land will raise an additional Lm300,000 – reaching Lm1 million next year. The ministry itself will see its recurrent expenditure raise by Lm280,000 – mainly through a rise of Lm122,000 in salaries and wages, while an extra Lm175,000 for the National Plan for the Adoption of the Acquis will also contribute to expenses in the form of Lm175,000. Transport has been increased by Lm7,000 to Lm45,000 while contractual and professional services have been cut by Lm11,000 to Lm19,000 and Lm21,000 to Lm11,000 respectively. Police The police force will incur additional recurrent expenses of Lm2.379 million next year, mainly as a result of personal emoluments for employees within its ranks – which will run an extra Lm1.8 million and through allowances of an extra Lm200,000. Additionally, Lm190,000 will be contributed for the NPAA, while another Lm10,000 will go toward the 23rd Conference on Capital Policing and another Lm9,000 on a European Conference on Probation. Meanwhile, the police’s training expenditure has been bolstered by Lm9,000 to Lm12,000. Correctional Services An increase in salaries and wages attributable to correctional services will account for the good part of the section’s increased expenditure of Lm274,000, while an extra Lm35,000 has been allocated to a drug rehabilitation programme for inmates – the programme’s total cost is Lm90,000 next year. Civil Protection Civil Protection will see an addition to its recurrent expenditure of some Lm240,000 next year again, mainly due to increased salaries, social security contributions and allowances. Operational and maintenance costs have been bolstered by Lm10,000 to Lm282,000 for next year while Lm75,000 will be forked out for the NPAA. Government Property Division This division will see an addition to its recurrent expenditure of Lm67,000, mainly as a result of personal emoluments. Registration Department This division will see an addition to its recurrent expenditure of Lm44,000, mainly as a result of personal emoluments. However, utilities have been increased by Lm26,000 to Lm36,000, office services have been incremented by Lm10,000 to Lm12,000 while ‘incidental expenses’ have been bolstered by Lm3,500 to Lm3,900. Meanwhile property improvements have been allocated Lm5,500, Lm5,000 more than this year, and equipment expenses have also been raise to Lm9,500 from this year’s Lm1,500. | ||||||
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The Business Times, Network House, Vjal ir-Rihan San Gwann SGN 07
Tel: (356) 382741-3, 382745-6 | Fax: (356) 385075 | e-mail: [email protected]