Politicians on Scrutiny have taken the unusual step of publishing its “significant concerns” with Policy & Resources’ 2026 budget ahead of it being debated in the States next week.
The Scrutiny Management Committee was particularly critical of public sector pay and the lack of meaningful measures in the budget to address inflation-busting spending growth.
It published a letter of comment on the senior committee’s budget plans for next year unexpectedly, with President Deputy Andy Sloan saying, “the 2026 Budget fails to move the States towards financial sustainability. It lacks context, transparency, and fiscal discipline.
He noted that “the difficult decisions required to restore balance have once again been deferred” – a point also made by Express.
It was the last of a flurry of announcements coming from the States’ formal scrutineers which included a notice of its first public hearing with P&R which will focus on the States Property Unit, as well as the relaunch of a public accounts team which will probe
Scrutiny will grill officials and politicians from P&R at the Castel Douzaine on 18 November on the government’s property portfolio which commands a budget of £32m.
It said due to the pressures on the public purse it is an “appropriate time to examine the governance, oversight, and value for money associated with the service”.
The Public Accounts Sub-Committee was also announced to “bring greater clarity and visibility to the important work undertaken to ensure value for money and accountability in the use of public funds”.
Former Chief Minister and advocate Peter Harwood, Claire Savage and Eleanor Round have been invited to sit on the panel.
Deputy Sloan, in his letter criticising the 2026 budget, said the main concern was the lack of detail around a forecast cash outflow of £115m which showed “the States intends once again to finance expenditure from liquidating reserves or borrowing”.
He also criticised “unsustainable” spending growth of 4.4%, especially at Health & Social Care where there is a lack of “supporting analysis”, and a rise in the public sector wage bill by 6.7% to £360m.
Caution was advised over new corporate tax revenues, expected to raise £40m per year, but no cash will be collected until 2027.
Deputy Sloan questioned why efficiencies haven’t been created it corporate services, which handles property and IT, and instead its budget has been earmarked for a 9.4% increase.
“The Budget provides limited contextual, comparative, or economic information. There is little analysis of the assumptions underpinning revenue forecasts or the economic outlook more broadly. Without this, neither Members nor the public can meaningfully assess the realism of the figures presented,” he said.
“Because of the General Election timetable, this Budget has effectively become a holding exercise. Newly elected Members have had no meaningful input into its preparation. The SMC is concerned that this weakens both political accountability and effective governance of the public purse.”
Deputies Sloan, Liam McKenna and Haley Camp all sit on Scrutiny.
The budget will be debated on 4 November, with the deadline for amendments this afternoon.
Its hearing with P&R on 18 November is open to the public and will also be livestreamed on Youtube.