Fiscal Duties of Government

Section 1What fiscal means

Fiscal means connected to government money. Fiscal duties include collecting revenue, preparing a budget, spending on public services, and accounting for how money is used. In plain words, it is the money-management side of government.

Section 2Government revenue

Revenue is money the government receives. Governments collect revenue through taxes, fees, licences, loans, grants, and profits from some public bodies. In Jamaica, taxes help pay for things like schools, roads, hospitals, and national security.

Section 3Government spending

Government spending is money used to provide services and run the country. Spending may include education, health care, transport, water systems, police, courts, disaster preparation, and social support. Watch out: public money should be spent for public benefit, not private favour.

Section 4The national budget

A budget is a plan for income and spending. The national budget sets out how the government expects to raise money and how it plans to spend it. Here's the trick: the budget shows priorities, because limited money means choices must be made.

Section 5Accountability

Accountability means government should explain and justify how public money is used. Citizens, Parliament, auditors, and the media can all help watch how funds are spent. This matters because tax money belongs to the public.