As expected, a national budget concentrating on hosting the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting was announced on Tuesday.

It is a bigger budget. This financial year government expenditure is expected to be $1.15 billion compared to the $1.08 billion for the previous one. Most of the increments made to the different ministries are CHOGM-based.

The Ministry of Education’s budget is down $4 million as the Ministry of Sports is a separate body now. MEC receives $135.5 million compared to $139 million last year. The Ministry of Health budget increases from $146.5 million to $156.6 million. This is good news.

It was also good to see that $1 million has been allocated for the renovations needed at the main hospital. Hopefully, this will be actioned sooner rather than later because the hospital needs it. It also looks like nurses could be getting a pay rise, but that has not been verified. The increase in the health budget is suggesting that.

The Samoa Police, Prisons, and Corrections Services are $58.3 million compared to the $55.7 million they received last year. Much of the increment has to do with CHOGM because more people are being recruited and money will be needed to cater for the overseas police officers who will be coming in to help.

It is good to see that a large chunk of the money for the Ministry of Finance is going towards Senior Citizen Pensions and Disability benefits. Of the $117.8 million given to the Finance Ministry, $37.5 million is for that and will be distributed through the Samoa National Provident Fund.

There are also slight increases for other ministries but nothing major. CHOGM preparations and hosting receive another $20 million. Much of this direct budget funding is from donor partners.

The other big winners in the budget announcement are members of parliament and civil servants. A Cost of Living Adjustment was done and it has been found that this group of people are finding it difficult to make a living and they will be getting a pay rise.

What happened to the increase in the minimum wage rate? The poorest will not be receiving any relief, according to the budget announcement. What are some of the social reliefs or tax reliefs that increase the buying poor of those living close to the poverty line or below it?

As usual, the budget address is vague and does not specify how and where the money will be used. This has been a trademark of all budgets that have been presented from day one. There is no mention of taxes going up or down or how will the budget affect the pockets of everyday people.

The information presented in parliament does not tell this. People want to know if they will pay more or less for food, medicine, alcohol, cigarettes, white goods, computers, electronics, clothes, and other items.

The budget address was posted on the Ministry of Finance website a day later but the fiscal policy changes and taxation changes have not been talked about or made public.

That is the type of information that should be made available. People have the right to know what the budget discussion will focus on and not be told when the budget is passed. People need to know if the income tax threshold is being increased or decreased.

The situation for teachers has not changed. The government will not be bringing any of the teachers under their wings so teachers are paid a good salary and the national crisis could be dealt with. Parents are still paying high school fees.

The $1 million district grant remains. Hopefully, this time around the money is not just splashed around unevenly but put to good use such as boosting education, health, transportation, and infrastructure.

The weeks to come will tell the story of what is going where and who will be the winners from this budget. The government is being urged to make the budget estimates, taxation, and fiscal policies public, so the people have a clearer idea of what is being discussed and how they are being impacted.