Understand public money
Budgets
What is a budget?
A budget is the government's plan for raising and spending money over one year.
Key points
- The financial year runs from 1 July to 30 June.
- Parliament debates and approves the national budget.
- Your council has its own budget too.
A budget shows two things: where the money will come from, and what it will pay for. It is the government's promise to citizens for that year.
You can share your priorities through your village or street meetings. Once the budget is approved, you have a right to know what was planned for your area.