ST.JOHN'S Antigua, March 26th, 2012 -- Permanent Secretaries and senior public officers who attended a budget forum last Thursday have signaled their commitment to the theme of the 2012 Budget Statement: Resolved to Transform, Determined to Deliver.
The forum was held to assess the extent to which the programme budgeting method is used to plan expenditure, and to give the officials a chance to discuss their challenges with officials of the Budget Office, the Office of the Financial Secretary, and Treasury officials.
Programme budgeting uses a logical framework that details required inputs as well as expected outcomes. It also calls for structured monitoring and evaluation.
While there were across the board requests for additional funds to carry out their mandate, the overwhelming majority of participants, in evaluating the forum, expressed a greater understanding of the relationship between revenue and expenditure, and the importance of reducing the fiscal deficit.
A graphic presentation by Senior Economic and Financial Analyst Ted Lewis was especially informative in showing how the fiscal consolidation programme (FCP) has narrowed the deficit. More than 80 per cent of the participants ended the day with a better understanding of how their role and responsibility ties in with the FCP.
The Ministry expects to hold at least one similar forum before the next budget cycle.
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Antigua News