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Govt spent $51m more than was budgeted for 2011

Government spent nearly $52 million more than it expected last year, with hospital subsidies costing $18 million more than originally budgeted.A supplementary estimate tabled in the House of Assembly showed revealed costs for the financial year 2011/12 were estimated at $70,376,600.A total of $18,458,000 was described as “technical subsidies” balanced by underspending in other areas.Government spent $51,900,000 more than it originally budgeted for the 2011/12 financial year.The House of Assembly will now have to approve the figures.A total of eight ministries required supplements last year, with the Ministry of Health spending $21 million more than originally budgeted.The bulk of the additional expenditure came from subsidies at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital, which cost $18 million more than had been forecast.Another $3 million in unbudgeted funds were put towards health insurance, specifically portability claims.This is the third year in a row the cost for subsidies, which support medical care for seniors, children and those who otherwise cannot afford treatment, have been notably higher than expected.The budget was exceeded by $15 million in each of the previous two years.KEMH was budgeted $104 million for the 2012/13 fiscal year, an increase of $19.3 million.The Ministry of Youth, Families and Sports also spent more than anticipated, with the budgets for Financial Assistance Grants and Child Day Care Allowance swelling by more than $12.3 million.Supplementary funds were also required for:n The Ministry of National Security $8 million for police pay awards, $2.5 million for salaries/overtime and operational costs at Border Control, $700,000 in pay awards for fire officers and $300,000 in pay awards for regimental officers;n The Ministry of Education $11 million for substitutes, para-educators and operational costs;n The Ministry of Justice $3.4 million for legal aid, $2.3 million for overtime at the Department of Corrections and $250,000 for criminal injuries compensation;n The Ministry of Public Works $3.5 million for a golf course operational grant;n The Ministry of Finance HQ $2.7 million for employer overheads;n The Ministry of Transport $2.5 million for salaries/wages, overtime and operational costs.