Gov’t investment down 20%, more civil servants next year

The government plans to shrink public investment by 20% and achieve a net growth of 808 civil servants next year, a parliamentary committee has disclosed.

The parliament’s First Standing Committee is studying next year’s budget.

Committee president Ella Lei told a post-meeting press conference next year’s Investment and Development Expenditure Plan (PIDDA) has been set at MOP17.42 billion, down MOP4.89 billion year-over-year.

The government has budgeted for revenue and expenditure next year of MOP107.11 billion and MOP105.94 billion respectively, leading to a surplus budget.

Income from concessions will play a major role, with an estimate of over MOP83.4 billion from gambling.

MOP11.27 billion and MOP3.49 billion are expected from direct and indirect tax incomes.

In terms of PIDDA, the government has bigger budgets for the Housing, the Public Works and the Health bureaus, reaching MOP5.53 billion, MOP4.95 billion and MOP1.3 billion respectively. Funds will be allotted to the construction of government housing and the Cotai hospital.

An income of MOP28.11 billion is estimated for entities such as the Macao Post and Telecommunications Bureau and the Social Security Fund.

In terms of civil service expansion, the Health, the Security Forces Affairs, the Correctional Services, the Cultural Affairs and the Gaming Inspection and Coordination bureaus, as well as the Macau Polytechnic University will hire over 50 people respectively. aL