ACT Treasurer Andrew Barr is this morning preparing to hand down the government's latest budget, complete with a bigger-than-expected deficit and significant cuts across key policy areas.
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Canberra Times journalists will today pore through the budget papers to deliver all the announcements to our readers live as the Treasurer addresses the ACT Legislative Assembly from 3pm.
Before the full package is released, here is what we already know of budget 2013-14:
- Rates will go up by about 10 per cent, and by up to 14 per cent as part of the government's tax reforms. This will mean the average household will pay an extra $139 a year, although the exact amount will differ for each home.
- The government will announce a deficit of $340 million for 2012-13 on Tuesday and has forecast a deficit of $253.6 million for 2013-14
- The budget is not expected to return to the black until 2015-16 when a pre-election surplus of $29.3 million is expected.
- The government will spend $5 million in 2013-14 to begin work on a separate paediatric emergency area at Canberra Hospital with the federal government agreeing to fund the capital works and will reimburse the full $5 million in 2014-15.
- An extra $45 million over four years is expected to be included to slash elective surgery and emergency department wait times in the ACT, as well as a further $1.6 million to launch a mobile dental clinic.
- Cuts of $140 million from government directorates over four years will be used to free up funds for priority services and infrastructure.
- An extra $1.5 million in funding will be delivered over the next three years allow for more parks and wildlife rangers to be recruited
- The budget will allocate more than $1.3 million to new programs aimed to tackle biodiversity issues, including $450,000 for the management of invasive weeds.
- From September, the ACT First Home Owner Grant will increase from $7000 to $12,500 but will only be available to buyers purchasing new homes or homes they plan to ''substantially renovate''.
- New releases of ACT land sites for new dwellings will be made available to assist with planning and population growth.
- Drivers with perfect license records will receive a 20 per cent discount, saving around $32 from the cost of a five-year licence.
- The budget will introduce around $4.1 million in increases to government fees, traffic fines and cemetery costs.
- $142.6 million in likely cuts are expected to come from "general savings" across the budget, and $30 million will be saved from spending on goods and services.
- Targeted English language training for migrant children will receive a $1.8 million boost.
- 30 drinking fountains will be installed across the capital at a cost of $450,000
- $680,000 will go towards refurbishing Yarralumla Nursery, including restoration of a glasshouse
- A range of bridge strengthening works will be carried out along locations such as Cotter Road, at a cost of $1.529 million
The Canberra Times will bring you all the detail of the ACT 2013-14 Budget online from 3pm today and in our Wednesday print edition.