The 2017-2018 Budget Estimates debate resumed when parliament went back to work.
And as usual it is the perfect vehicle for lawmakers to voice the needs of their respective constituencies.
That was crystal clear with the overwhelming support echoed in parliament yesterday morning as Members of Parliament gave their verbal approval to support the government’s proposed spending for the next 12 months.
And as usual requests from the floor to the Finance Minister Sili Epa Tuioti included the need for more agricultural access roads, new water supply, additional classrooms, improve electricity supply at affordable costs as well as a range of capital development projects to be included in future budget estimates.
And Sili will address the requests when he takes the floor during the current session.
Two weeks ago in tabling the Budget estimates, Sili had reassured parliament and the country that he is confident that government can build a resilient economy and ensure the community gets the service it demands.
He maintained that the government's financial priority would continue to be in education and health.
Education and Health remain the priority.
The Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture gets the highest budget allocation of $100.3million [US$38.9 million], which is equivalent to 19.6per cent of total government expenditure.
The second highest budget allocation is $88.5million [US34.3 million] for the Health sector.
Infrastructure is allocated $46.99 million [US$18.22 million] while Tourism gets $11.4million [US$4.4 million].
Commerce is allocated $7.7million [US$3.0 million] while Agriculture and Fisheries is appropriated $14.1 million [US$5.5 million]. $15.35million [US$5.95 million] has been set aside as Unforeseen expenditure.
He added that government will ease the tax burden on lower paid workers by lifting the tax free threshold so that nearly 15,000 workers would not have to pay income tax.
With estimated revenues of $852.3million [US$330.5 million] and total expenditures of $934.2m [US$362.3 million], a Deficit $89.9m [US$34.9 million] is forecasted.
But the deficit will be funded by a soft term loan for the new budget to end with a cash surplus.
Photo by Government of Samoa: Parliament in session