Falklands : Falklands' Finance Director Highlights 2010 budget
Submitted by Falkland Islands News Network (Juanita Brock) 26.05.2010 (Article Archived on 09.06.2010)
Keith Padgett explains the highlights of the 2010/11 budget proposals
2010/11 OPERATING BUDGET HIGHLIGHTS
MAIN REVENUE MEASURES:
No changes to:
Income tax or Corporation tax rates
Embarkation Fee, Harbour Dues, Customs entrance & clearance fees
Cemetery plot reservation charges
Local Postal Charges
Passenger levy
Communal heating scheme charges
Work permits, residence permits, PRP & status applications, visas and customs permits
Septic tank cleaning charges
Increases in:
Re-introduction of Medical Services Levy at 1% employee and 1.5% employer from 1 January 2011
Funeral charges in Stanley by 18% to £1,168 and in Camp by 29.5% to £1,368
Customs import duties of 10% on cigarettes and tobacco products and 3% on alcohol
Service charges for domestic properties of 6.5% to £396
Waste collection from non-domestic properties of 10% to £134 for a wheelie bin & £407 for a large bin
Metered water charges for commercial users of 3%
Charges for quarry aggregate sales to the private sector of 10%
Retirement Pension Contributions (RPCs) from 1 January 2011 to £13.50 (resident, employee/employer) and £33.10 (voluntary overseas)
Rents for FIG accommodation by 5%
Increase in tourist FIGAS rates of 10% from 1 July 2011 (outer island residents cap to remain at £50)
Increase in FIGAS freight rates of 20%
Camp airstrip owners to be charged for hire of maintenance equipment
Registry fees to be increased by ~6.5%
Overseas postage rates and removal of Christmas Card rate
Increase in the following fees by RPI (0.7%)
Accommodation charges and tuition fees for boarders at Stanley House
Car licence fees of £0.75 to £110.25 (+ other licence fees commensurately)
Vehicles, firearms & drivers licence fees (various increases between £0.25 and £0.50)
Medical charges
Veterinary and agriculture charges
Attorney General and notarial charges
Decreases in:
Electricity from 17.5p to 16.53p per unit
Decrease in personal and lower tax bands to £12,000
MAIN SPENDING MEASURES:
No changes to:
Winter fuel allowance
Child allowance of £60/month but means testing to be removed (and to be taxed from 1 January 2011).
Increases in:
Staff salaries & wages, cost of living increase of 1%
Old Scheme public service & FLH pensions increase of 1%
Standard retirement pensions, ex-gratia pensions & Christmas bonus increase of 1%
Allowances for the rent rebate and service charge rebate schemes of 5% and 1% respectively
Welfare allowances (including attendance and fostering allowances) of 1%
Threshold for rent rebate, service charge rebate and winter fuel allowance increase by 0.7%
Decreases in:
Maintenance grants for all Further Education students to change to £30 but means testing be removed.
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