Proposed 2016 Budget delivered to members of East Timor's National Parliament

ETLJB 5 November 2015 Government of East Timor Press Release - Dili, 4 November, 2015 - The proposed State Budget for 2016 was delivered to members of National Parliament last week for their
review prior to the official submission of the Budget to Parliament. The “Budget books” have also been made available for public review through the website of the Ministry of Finance website at www.mof.gov.tl.

On the 20th of October the Council of Ministers reported that the Government had approved the proposed Budget, which will now come before National Parliament for discussion, culminating in the Budget Plenary to set conclude in December. Once the 2016 Budget Law is approved by National Parliament it will be submitted to the President of the Republic for promulgation.

This year the Budget has been prepared in line with the Sixth Constitutional Government’s Budget Performance Reform which seeks to ensure that Timor-Leste’s public resources are used as efficiently and effectively as possible to provide quality services. Strengthening the quality of planning and the connection to public expenditure is a key part of this reform. Book 1 of the 2016 State Budget explains:

“The 2016 Budget presents a classification of certain expenditures by program as well as the usual classification by appropriation category and institution. Each Ministry has identified its major programs and submitted a joint budget submission classified by program and activity. All Budget books therefore include a Program Budgeting component, which breaks down expenditures within each line ministry by program and activity for 2016. “Book 2 covering Annual Plans contains these comprehensive breakdowns for each area of Government demonstrating improved planning and a strengthening of the linkage of programs and activities to public expenditure.

The proposed 2016 State Budget is $1,562.2 million with $1,127.3 million allocated for recurrent expenditure including salary and wages, goods and services and public transfers and $434.9 allocated for capital expenditure.

Spokesperson for the Sixth Constitutional Government, Minister of State Agio Pereira noted “the Government is conscious of its responsibility to effectively manage public funds for the benefit of the people of Timor-Leste. That is why we have reviewed all existing programs to seek to maximize the returns on all expenditure and insisted on improved planning within each area of Government. We welcome the upcoming period of discussion and encourage the review of the proposed 2016 State Budget.” ENDS

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