Homa Bay County Budget Review and Outlook Paper 2018

Abstract

This County Budget Review and Outlook Paper (CBROP) is the fourth of its kind and it presents a review of the fiscal outcome and performance for the financial year 2017/18. It also gives a projected macroeconomic outlook based on national economic indicators as well as county-specific economic growth indicators. The macroeconomic outlook provides the basis to recast the 2018/19 budget in the context of expected expenditure as well as set out the broad fiscal parameters for the 2018/2019 budget and for medium term development planning. While the macroeconomic environment remains conducive, uncertainty around the projected revenue to be collected coupled with the continued under-strength growth of the national economy calls for caution in the county’s fiscal projections. In this CBROP 2018, the county government’s fiscal policy strategy remains focused on enhancing revenue collection such as through establishing a strong inspectorate and automation as well as containing growth of recurrent expenditure especially on wages and personnel benefits. That way, resources are shifted from recurrent to the more productive capital areas while ensuring there is improved efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources. This fiscal policy strategy recognizes the need to strike a balance between growth and fiscal sustainability and therefore emphasizes on higher investments in health, water, agriculture, human capital and infrastructure development today for a stronger and more sustainable growth in future.