Fiscal Commissioner Wants Revenue and Expenditure Tabled Together

Fiscal Commissioner, Courtney Williams, is calling on the government to adopt a new budget process that would see the revenue measures tabled alongside the estimates of expenditure.

Addressing the commission’s first media briefing on Monday, Williams says the move is a requirement of the Fiscal Policy Paper which remains outstanding.

Daina Davy tells us more.

Fiscal Commissioner Courtney Williams says it’s time for the government to table its revenue measures alongside other budget documents, in line with the country’s fiscal rules.

He believes it would allow for better oversight and macro-economic prudence.

The revenue measures outline the new means by which the government intends to fund its spending for the next financial year.

It also contains what revenues the government intends to sacrifice to fund give backs, for example, adjustments in the income tax threshold.

The long-held style used by Jamaican administrations is for the finance minister to announce revenue measures during the opening budget presentation.

Mr. Williams says it’s time for this to change.

The fiscal commissioner says the current practice also has implications for his office and its ability to properly inform the Jamaican people.