FSM Department of Finance and Administration Launches First Citizens’ Budget

FSMPIO – PALIKIR, Pohnpei, February 26, 2024 – On February 16, 2024 the Secretary of Finance and Administration launched the National Government Fiscal Year 2024 Citizens Budget. While presenting the Citizens Budget, T.H. Rose N. Nakanaga shared “I am excited and pleased to be part of the launch of our first Citizens Budget.” The Citizen’s Budget is a crucial step of the Simina-Palik administration’s efforts towards putting transparency into action and exercising fiscal responsibility.

The intention of the Citizens Budget is to present to the public in non-technical language the approved FY2024 Budget. The rationale is to increase budget transparency both in regards to what is appropriated and how the budget process works. In this way the intention of the Citizens Budget is to be both informative and educational. The Citizens Budget starts with a brief questions and answers section on how the budget is prepared, approved, and implemented where key budget terms are also explained. The intention throughout is to inform the public where government money comes from and how government money is spent. In the Foreword H.E. President Wesley W. Simina writes “We aim to ensure through the budget process that our spending is responsible and linked to the policy priorities of my Administration.”“The preparation and implementation of our Budget is a collective effort that shows the benefits of working together to achieve growth and prosperity today for the benefit of future generations.” The Department of Finance and Administration plans to publish the Citizens Budget annually. Secretary Nakanaga calls on the public to provide feedback to the Budget and Economic Management Division, so that they may continue to improve the way the National Government shares budget information with the public. A copy of the Citizens Budget along with all contact information can be found at: https://dofa.gov.fm/…/2024/02/Citizens-Budget-2024.pdf###