Health and Social Services, Finance and Economics, Education, Sport and Culture, and Employment and Social Security all stand to see their cash flow increase, if the proposals are agreed by the States.But Home Affairs, Policy and Resources, Economic Development, Housing and Environment and Public Services are facing budget cuts.The biggest increase is for Health at £3.4m, while Environment stand to see their budget slashed by £2.5m – a decision which resulted in the controversial sewerage tax, which has subsequently been deferred.The proposals were revealed by Finance vice-president Senator Philip Ozouf at last night’s Town Hall public meeting to discuss user pays charges.The budgets, which will go before the States as part of the Resource Plan debate, flowed from recent discussions between committee presidents, who agreed to limit expenditure growth in 2004 to 2.5 per cent.
The exact details are due to be announced on 30 June.
Senator Ozouf said that after Health, the next biggest winner was Finance, with an increase of £3.1m – but this was to fund the massive increases in States insurance premiums and the cost of some abnormally large court cases.Under the proposals, Education will receive an increase of £1.1m and Employment a rise of £0.1m.Bottom of the list is Environment, followed by Housing with a cut of £1.8m; Economic Development losing £0.9m; and both Home Affairs and Policy and Resources facing cuts of £0.2m.
