The Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance, chaired by Maryland County District 1 Representative P. Mike Jury, has officially commenced revenue hearings into Liberia’s draft national budget for fiscal year 2025. It followed the submission process by the executive on November 18, 2024, to Deputy House Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, prior to the election of Monsterrado County District 11 Representative Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker of the 55th Legislature. The draft national budget for fiscal year 2025 is in the tune of United States dollars eight hundred fifty-one million ($USD 851.76M), with domestic revenue constituting $791.76 million (93%) and external resources at $60 million (7%), respectively. During the start of the revenue hearing, the Ways, Means, and Finance Committee Chair, Representative Jury, said the essence of legislative budgeting is to review the government’s plan, to track the government’s revenues and expenditures, and to ensure the government has enough money to cover its activities and achieve the government’s set goals. He assured the public of a renewed and robust oversight into the execution of the FY2025 budget when approved by the August body and will include further fiscal measures to be put in place, like the viewing and garnishing rights given to the LRA; hearings on quarterly performance reports, among others. In remarks, Deputy Acting Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Hon. Tanneh G. Brunson, disclosed that the expenditures for the ensuing year are aligned to the AAID and intends to address some of the country’s development challenges. Rep. Brunson said the amount of US$745.69 million, representing 88 percent of the total expenditure, is forecasted as recurrent revenue. This amount indicates a 10 percent increment when compared to FY2024. Recurrent Expenditures Forecast Compensation of employees is projected at US$315.17 million, or 42.3 percent of the total budget. She said this amount will fund the inclusion of additional health workers and teachers on the government’s payroll and increase the salaries of selected social and security sectors’ civil servants to the minimum wage and above in keeping with the Decent Work Act of 2015. Also speaking was the Deputy Commissioner General for Technical Affairs of the Liberia Revenue Authority, Gabriel Montgomery, who recounted that in 2024, the LRA was charged with collecting US$738.86 million. “I am pleased to report that as of November 30, 2024, we have successfully collected US$619.9 million, representing 84% of our total revenue target and about 90% of our domestic revenue target. This performance not only underscores our commitment to revenue collection but also reflects the hard work of our dedicated staff and the partnerships we forged with various stakeholders. Honorable legislator and members of the press, I am elated to report that the amount collected at the stage in the current year is the highest the LRA has collected in a single year since its establishment. We are indeed committed to achieving the billion-dollar mark that has eluded us for many years”, the LRA boss noted. He said the LRA for FY 2025 has been tasked with raising a total of US$851.8 million, with the core revenue expected to amount to US$833 million and contingent revenue at US$18.8 million. According to him, it marks a substantial 15.3% increase over the recast budget of this year and requires a united effort, innovative strategies, and a forward-thinking approach. Meanwhile, the revenue hearing was graced by House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, Deputy House Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, members of the committee on Ways, Means, and Finance, Public Accounts and Expenditure, and other lawmakers and officials of the Ministry of Finance, Development Planning, and the Liberia Revenue Authority, including other revenue-generating entities of the Executive. Following the opening ceremonies, which were public, all other hearings surrounding the revenue hearing will be held behind closed doors, consistent with the standing rules and procedures of the House of Representatives. Upon the climax of the revenue hearing, the Committee on Ways, Means, and Finance will officially commence the expenditure hearing, which will involve spending entities.
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