Legislators will spend Thursday and Friday debating the territory’s budget during
a House of Assembly sitting, publicly airing some of the issues they have been discussing in Standing Finance Committee deliberations, which started Jan. 26.
A report on the SFC proceedings, which concluded on Feb. 28, is to be made public at tomorrow’s sitting, according to an order paper released yesterday.
In his Budget Address Jan. 17, Premier Dr. Orlando Smith said expenditures were estimated to be $$258,472,000. Revenue was projected to be $287,472,000, leaving an expected surplus of $29 million, Dr. Smith said.
For legislators, the budget process has three main phases: the Budget Address, the SFC deliberations and the public debate.
The debate will be aired on CBN channel 51, which also broadcasts online at http://www.cbnbvi.com/content/tv51-Live.html. The debate can also be heard on ZBVI radio.
At the end of the debate, legislators will pass an appropriations bill, putting the 2012 budget into law.
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