The Falkland Islands Government yesterday published its budget for the upcoming financial year, describing it as a prudent budget that focuses on stability and continuity. The budget forecasts operating expenditure of £78.3m and revenues of £92.2m, as well as a capital programme totalling £53.5m for the upcoming financial year.
Stability and continuity are at the heart of the Falkland Islands Government Budget for 2020/21. The Budget recognises these two themes are essential in the time of uncertainty stemming from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
“As a government we continue to be careful stewards of our finances and operate a robust and credible budgeting process that is both open and transparent,” Falkland Islands Government’s Chief Executive Barry Rowland stated during a speech to Legislative Assembly.
The Falkland Islands Standing Finance Committee met on November 27 in the Liberation Room, Stanley and reported that the forecast operating surplus for the year is now £11.3 million, excluding capital expenditure.
The Falkland Islands Government Standing Finance Committee heard on Wednesday that the forecast operating surplus for the whole of the year now stands at £9.4 million. Expenditure is expected to ramp up over the remainder of the financial year, with plenty of infrastructure work being scheduled for the summer months.
The Falkland Islands Government operating surplus of £38 million for 2017/18 was driven primarily by favourable Corporation Tax receipts. The original budgeted deficit in my view led the former Legislative Assembly to be over cautious in their demands leading to unnecessary thrift in some areas, according to MLA Roger Spink, who is head of the Government Services Portfolio of the Assembly.
The following is the Budget 2018/19 presentation made by the Falkland Islands Financial Secretary, James Wilson.
The Falkland Islands forecast operating budget surplus for the current financial year sits at £33m, Standing Finance Committee (SFC) was told on Wednesday. The surplus, up from the previous forecast of £27m, has been boosted by fishing company corporation tax payments, which have been “significantly higher than budget.”
The Falkland Islands Executive Council (its effective Cabinet) agreed late last week a set of budgeting principles for the Government over the coming financial year beginning 1st July 2018. These principles are likely to apply throughout the four year term of the current Legislative Assembly, though will be formally reviewed by the Assembly annually.
The Falkland Islands government has announced highlights of its Budget for 2017/18, approved by the Legislative Assembly and which becomes effective on first July 2017 and will end on the 30th June 2018.