Jersey's budget: the Government Plan explained

What happens to the money that you pay in taxes? And who decides how that money is spent?

Every year the States Assembly debates the 'Government Plan'. This is Jersey's budget. It's a key moment in the year where States Members - Jersey's elected representatives - can influence how public money is spent. 

This episode looks at the process behind the plan: how does the Island's budget go from the initial draft through to the final version which is amended and approved by our 49 politicians? We discuss the key ways in which the States Assembly considers, scrutinises, and amends the Government Plan.

We get into a fair amount of detail in this episode, from unpicking amendments to amendments (and even amendments to amendments to amendments!), to explaining the 'trick' the States Assembly has up its sleeve in getting taxation legislation passed in time for the new financial year.

Episode host: Emily Thomas
Interviewee: Will Millow

Music: Pumpupthemind

Get in touch with us if you have some feedback about the show, or if you want to suggest a topic for a future episode. Email statesgreffe@gov.je

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Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction
• 1:20 What is the Government Plan?
• 2:31 How is the Government Plan created and shaped by the States Assembly?
• 8:18 How can States Members use the Government Plan to bring about change and improvements?
• 11:59 How does the States' debate of the Government Plan work?
• 15:20 What to expect in the Government Plan debate
• 24:53 How do amendments work?
• 26:41 Amendment to amendment to amendment klaxon!
• 29:39 How do the Greffiers keep the debate on track?
• 41:07 What happens once all the amendments have been debated and voted on?
• 46:22 How does the law affect the Government Plan?
• 51:26 What's the magic trick for passing laws?