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The FY2004 estimated operating expenditure of $20.86 billion
is an increase of $0.87 billion or 4.4% over FY2003. About
87% of the operating expenditure is for ministries’
running costs in expenditure on manpower (EOM), other operating
expenditure (OOE) and grants-in-aid (GIA) to statutory boards
and aided educational institutions. The remaining 13% is for
transfer payments to external organisations and the public.
Running Costs are projected to increase by
4.0% to $18.05 billion, mainly because of higher OOE.
EOM is estimated to increase by 2.2% to $3.47 billion to
cater to annual salary increments, filling of vacancies and
net addition of 145 posts. The main increases are for the
Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of Home Affairs
(MHA). MOE’s expenditure is estimated to increase by
1.5% to $1.75 billion to fill up vacant teaching posts. MHA’s
expenditure is estimated to increase by 2.0% to $1.11 billion
mainly for enhanced security measures.
OOE is estimated to increase by 5.4% to $10.57 billion mainly
for the Ministry of Defence (MINDEF). The bulk of MINDEF’s
OOE of $8.22 billion goes towards the Armed Forces for payment
of salaries and allowances for full-time national servicemen
and operationally ready national servicemen, maintenance of
equipment and camps, and purchase of military equipment.
GIA is estimated to increase by 2.1% to $4.00 billion. This
is mainly for MOE, the Ministry of Information, Communications
and the Arts (MITA) and the Ministry of the Environment (ENV).
MOE’s allocation is increased by 1.7% to $2.46 billion
mainly for the newly formed Singapore Examinations and Assessment
Board (SEAB). The board is to conduct national examinations,
develop testing instruments and advise schools on assessment
matters. The allocation to MITA is increased by 7.9% to $0.20
billion because the National Library Board (NLB) needs to
provide for the Jurong Regional Library and the new National
Library. The allocation to ENV is increased by 2.7% to $0.44
billion because the National Environment Agency requires a
higher operating budget to maintain its additional assets.
Expenditure on Transfers is estimated to increase
by 6.7% to $2.81 billion. The increase is mainly for operating
subventions from the Ministry of Health (MOH) to restructured
institutions, polyclinics and voluntary welfare organisations.
The allocation to MOH is increased by 17.8% to $1.80 billion
mostly to cater for increased running costs, research and
measures to prevent, control and contain the outbreak of the
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and other diseases.
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