AMMAN — On Wednesday, the
Lower House approved the
General Budget Law for 2024, Al-Ghad reported.
اضافة اعلان
During the session headed by
Speaker Ahmad Safadi, and
attended by Prime Minister Bisher Al-Khasawneh along with other government
officials, 89 out of the 114 attending deputies voted in favor of the bill.
Subsequently, the bill was referred to the Senate, where their
financial committee will proceed to review the bill and refer it back to the council for
final approval. It is anticipated that the draft law will be published in the
official Gazette following His Majesty King Abdullah’s ratification and will
take effect before the middle of February.
The 2024 budget law comprises general revenues totaling
about JD10.3 billion, reflecting an 8.9 percent increase compared to 2023.
Consequently, local revenues are projected to increase to JD9.6 billion,
representing a 10 percent rise over their 2023 level. This increase is
attributed to a 10.2 percent rise in tax revenues, reaching 7.2 billion dinars,
achieved without the need for imposing any new taxes or increasing existing
ones.
Additionally, the draft law includes larger allocations for
public debt service. This increase is a result of the rise in global interest
rates, in line with the inflation-curbing policy pursued by the
US Federal Reserve.
Current expenditures are estimated at about JD10.6 billion,
with capital expenditures at about JD1.7 billion, bringing the total public
expenditures to JD12.37 billion.
Regarding capital expenditures, they increased by about 11.8
percent compared to their 2023 level, reaching about JD1.729 billion, marking
the highest in history.
Moreover, deputies demanded comprehensive healthcare for
every citizen, increased focus on the agriculture sector, support for the
university student support fund, issuance of a general amnesty, an increase in
salaries for civilian and military employees, both working and retired, and an
amendment of the
Anti-Terrorism Law to provide a clear definition and avoid
confusion.
Notably, over the course of five sessions, 95 deputies
addressed various issues, including Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, opposition
to any tampering with the student support fund, calls for comprehensive
healthcare, and strong criticism of the budget figures and the increase in
public debt service.
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