Two Guernsey budgets to be proposed

Guernsey's Policy and Resources (P&R) Committee is set to propose two budgets for 2027 that deputies can vote on.

One of the proposals will include a 1% cut in States spending, which was approved by deputies last year, following a move by Deputy Rhona Humphreys.

The other budget, according to P&R's treasury lead Charles Parkinson, has been prepared more "traditionally" and would include more expense.

He said if that budget is approved he would ask deputies to rescind the resolution to cut spending by 1%.

This follows an announcement by P&R that new taxes on large multinational companies are set to bring in tens of millions of pounds more than originally estimated.

Despite this P&R has said deputies still need to back its plans for tax reform, which include a 3% goods and services tax.

Guernsey's budget for 2027 is set to be published on Tuesday, before a debate by States members in November.

Ahead of the publication of the budget, Parkinson said: "There will be a choice, budget A, as we're under a States direction to introduce a budget with a 1% cut in real terms, so we have complied with that resolution.

"States members will have the opportunity to vote for that if they still believe it's the right thing to do."

President of the Committee for the Environment and Infrastructure Adrian Gabriel has already admitted he has asked for extra funding in the 2027 budget to deal with roadside weeds.

Parkinson said: "On the other hand we have offered them an alternative budget which has been prepared more traditionally based on our assessment of the needs of the committees and their submission to us.

"If States members choose that which will involved more expense then they will choose that and we will ask them to rescind the resolution with the 1% tax cut."

Follow BBC Guernsey on X, Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.