Chief minister confirms budget publication date

Jersey's new government will publish its 2027 budget - the first of the political term - on Tuesday 29 September, the chief minister has said.

Senator Lyndon Farnham also said a debate on the proposals was scheduled to begin in the States Assembly on Tuesday 8 December.

Over the course of the debate, politicians will vote on any amendments proposed by backbenchers, before a final vote is taken on the financial plan, as amended.

The measures agreed will take effect from 1 January 2027.

The proposed Common Strategic Policy - a document setting out ministers' main priorities for the coming years - would also be published on 29 September, and debated on Tuesday 10 November, Farnham added.

Confirmation of the budget's publication date comes after Treasury Minister Alan Maclean told the BBC the document would include "targeted measures" to help people with the cost of living.

While further details have not yet been confirmed, Deputy Lucy Stephenson last month withdrew calls for fuel duty to be temporarily reduced by 10p per litre, following "constructive discussions" with Maclean.

Overall, prices in the island rose by 2.8% in the year to June 2026, according to the latest inflation figures from Statistics Jersey.

The next inflation figures are due to be confirmed on 23 October.

Meanwhile, a new report on Jersey's economic outlook is due to be published on 6 November by the Fiscal Policy Panel (FPP), which provides the government and States Members with independent advice.

In July, assumptions published by the FPP and used by ministers to inform the development of budget proposals forecast the economy (real GVA) would shrink by 0.1% in 2026, before growing by 0.9% in 2027.

In response to questions from the chair of the Corporate Services Scrutiny Panel, Farnham said the proposed budget and Common Strategic Policy would be shared with backbenchers under embargo at 16:00 BST on Monday 28 September.

"States members will receive a briefing the same day," he said, adding that business cases related to any revenue growth bids would be provided once the budget proposition had been formally lodged with the States Assembly.

Farnham said departmental business plans would subsequently be published between December and January.

"This timetable is consistent with that adopted by the previous government and enables plans for the year to be based on approved spending allocations," he said.

The chief minister also confirmed a youth-friendly version of the budget would be published "shortly after" the original document was lodged.

He said a communications plan for the budget would include media interviews, social media posts and printed versions available at the library and parish halls.

Media and social media "monitoring for misinformation" would also take place, he added.

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