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Review: Proposed Budget 2026 - 2029 Review - Corporate Services Panel

Committee/Panel: Corporate Services Panel
Launch Date: 24 September 2025
Review Status: Report published Submissions Deadline: 31 October 2025
Review Report: Report - Proposed Budget 2026-2029 Review [S.R.6/2025]

Additional Report(s):
Ministerial Response: Ministerial Response Proposed Budget 2026-2029 Review S.R.6/2025 - 21 January 2026

About

The Proposed Budget 2026-29 [P.70/2025] was lodged and its Financial Annex [R.139/2025] presented on 16th September 2025. The debate on the Proposed Budget is scheduled for 9 December 2025.

The Proposed Budget (previously entitled ‘Government Plan’), the Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026 [R.115/2024]  and Departments’ Business Plans  aim to link the Council of Ministers’ high-level priorities with their delivery.

The Common Strategic Policy 2024-2026, which was approved by the States Assembly on 21 May 2024 defines thirteen strategic priorities for delivery over the next two years. This is aligned with the long-term vision set out in the Future Jersey Report and the ten Island Outcomes arising from it.

The thirteen priorities are:
  1. Extend nursery and childcare provision
  2. Provide nutritious school meals for every child in all States primary schools
  3. Increase the provision of lifelong learning and skills development
  4. Start building a new hospital at Overdale
  5. Reduce GP fees
  6. Implement the recommendations from the Violence Against Women and Girls Taskforce report
  7. Transition to a living wage
  8. Provide more affordable homes for Islanders and more confidence for the rented sector
  9. Keep Government fees, duties, and charges as low as possible to help Islanders with the cost of living in 2025
  10. Reduce red tape, enhance opportunities for business and strengthen Jersey’s international reputation
  11. Deliver a plan to revitalise Town
  12. Reform the planning service to enable sustainable development in Jersey
  13. Meet the Island’s commitments to address the climate emergency through the implementation of Cabon Neutral Roadmap
The Budget
 
The Proposed Budget explains the financial context in which Ministerial priorities will be delivered and also outlines the financial approvals that Ministers are proposing to ensure that taxpayers’ money is focused on delivering both their priorities and existing services, whilst ensuring the ongoing sustainability of Government and States’ finances. It is a rolling four-year plan that is revised and updated each year to reflect changes in the Island's economic outlook.

The Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019 requires the Council of Ministers to each financial year, prepare a government plan and lodge it in sufficient time for the States to debate and approve it before the start of the next financial year.

Details of the Proposed Budget include:
  • Estimated income and expenditure of the Consolidated Fund.
  • Amounts to be internally transferred between States Funds.
  • Any other proposed financing.
  • Revenue Expenditure Growth and Projects and their proposed costs.
  • Estimated income and expenditure from States Trading Operations to be paid into the States Trading Operations Fund.
  • Amounts to be appropriated from the Consolidated and States Trading Operations Funds for the next financial year.
  • Estimated amounts in States Funds at the start and finish of each financial year.
  • Borrowing and Debt Management Framework.
Key Issues
  • Whether the Proposed Budget meets the requirements of the Public Finances (Jersey) Law 2019.
  • Whether the Proposed Budget is fiscally sound and economically sustainable.
  • Whether the Proposed Budget follows the advice of the Fiscal Policy Panel and Income Forecasting Group.
  • The impact of the Proposed Budget proposals on departmental budgets and staffing levels. 
  • Whether the Proposed Budget aligns with the objectives of the Common Strategic Policy to deliver on the priorities and aligns with Departments’ Business Plans.
  • Whether the proposed Revenue Expenditure Growth and Projects are appropriate and deliverable within the timeframes specified. 
  • Whether the resources allocated to Revenue Expenditure Growth and Projects are sufficient and demonstrate the best use of public funds.
  • Whether the proposals for the use of existing States Funds, including the Consolidated Fund, Strategic Reserve Fund and the Stabilisation Fund are appropriate and in line with the needs of the Island in the current economic climate.
  • Whether the levels of public debt set out in the Proposed Budget are proportionate and managed in line with established best practice.
  • Whether the proposed structure and approach to implementation of the Jersey Capital Investment Fund align with its intended purpose and the objectives of the Common Strategic Policy.
  • Whether the levels of reserve and contingency funding are in place, adequate in relation to the Government’s proposals for expenditure and public debt? 
  • Whether the proposals for the medium to long-term investment strategy and the use of the Jersey Capital Investment Fund, through the Invest in Jersey 2026-2050 programme, contribute to long-term financial sustainability.
The main Funds for the Panel to review under its remit include:
  • Consolidated Fund
  • Strategic Reserve Fund
  • Stabilisation Fund
  • Jersey Capital Investment Fund (in principle)
Each Scrutiny Panel has been allocated various revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects specific to its remit to consider for their reviews of the Proposed Budget for 2026. The Corporate Services Panel will also review any overarching themes within the Proposed Budget. For a list of new revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects allocated to the Corporate Services Panel for this review, please see the document published under Research.

Review Progress

The Panel has launched its review and is requesting views and comments from targeted stakeholders, members of the public and Jersey’s youth to inform its review. The Panel intends to engage an expert advisor during its review.

The Panel will be holding public review hearings with the Chief Minister on 10 October 2025 and Minister for Treasury and Resources on 29 October 2025.

The Panel has reported on its findings and recommendations.

Terms of reference

  1. To review components of the Proposed Budget 2026-2029 Proposition [P.70/2025] which are relevant to the Corporate Services Panel to determine the following: 
    • The impact of the Budget proposals on departmental budgets, savings and staffing levels.
    • Whether the revenue expenditure growth, capital and other projects are appropriate and likely to have a positive impact on Islanders and Island life. 
    • How the proposed revenue expenditure growth, capital and other projects align with the Common Strategic Policy to deliver on the priorities, and in line with the Departments’ Business Plans. 
    • Whether the resources allocated to revenue expenditure growth and capital and other projects are sufficient, ensure value for money and demonstrate the best use of public funds. 
  2. To assess the impact of the Budget proposals on the States Funds relevant to the Corporate Services Panel including the Consolidated Fund, Strategic Reserve Fund, Stabilisation Fund and Jersey Capital Investment Fund.
  3. To assess the Budget and its impact relative to:
Design, Implementation and Sustainability
  • Sustainable wellbeing with consideration for the Common Strategic Policy, Future Jersey Vision, Jersey Performance Framework, Island Outcomes and Investing in Jersey 2026-2050.
  • Gender-responsive budgeting.
Financial Strategy, General Revenue Income and Public Sector Spending
  • The economic and fiscal context and forecasts.
  • The proposals for income and expenditure.
Balance Sheet and States Funds
  • The governance and use of States Funds (with specific focus on the Consolidated Fund, Strategic Reserve Fund, Stabilisation Fund and Jersey Capital Investment Fund).
  • The purpose, structure and implementation of the new Jersey Capital Investment Fund.
  • The governance and use of Reserves and contingency funding including any other non-routine use of Reserves.
  • Borrowing, debt management, investing, reprioritisation and rebalancing of Government finances.
  • Savings and the delivery thereof
  • Long-term financial sustainability. With consideration for the proposed medium to long-term investment strategy and use of the Jersey Capital Investment Fund (Investing in Jersey 2026-2050).