THE government’s £1.3 billion spending plans for next year have been approved following a four-day debate.
Members voted 31 for and 13 against Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham’s ambitious Budget – which was this year rebranded from the ‘Government Plan’.
In her opening speech on Tuesday, Treasury Minister Elaine Millar described the Budget as a “funded and balanced plan” designed to tackle the cost-of-living crisis by increasing tax thresholds, supporting local businesses through duty freezes, curbing growth within the public sector, and putting £710 million towards construction of the New Healthcare Facilities.
There were 29 amendments lodged, ten of which were accepted or partially accepted by the Council of Ministers, and several of which were withdrawn.
Among the amendments approved following a vote were agreements to transparently identify funding provided by the government to its chosen development partner for the Fort Regent redevelopment project; to reduce the production ceiling for distillers eligible for duty relief, from 40,000 litres a year to 20,000 litres; and to increase funding to Statistics Jersey by £78,000.
