Finance Minister Paula Cox, who delivered her first Budget Statement in Parliament on Friday, earned kudos from Islanders yesterday.

Several residents we spoke to in Hamilton, however, were still unaware of the Budget’s contents.

“I have no idea what’s in the Budget because I haven’t read up on it,” said .

, who owns a small business, viewed the Finance Minister’s first Budget as a conservative one.

“The increases are part and parcel as far as the economy is concerned. But I was reasonably okay with it.”

Possibly thinking of her next shopping trip abroad, was happy to see that residents no longer have to be off the Island for 72 hours to qualify for a $100 duty allowance.

“She put a big smile on a lot of people’s faces who are travelling.”

She was less enthusiastic about the rest of the Budget, but praised Ms Cox.

“There were some concerns but it could have been a whole lot worse. Paula Cox did a good job considering what short time she had.”

pointed out that seniors had fared well.

“The Budget ended up being fair for senior citizens. The same things go up every year.”

added: “It was all to be expected.

“Payroll tax and land tax went up, but it was to be expected.

“It was fair, not a sweetheart Budget, but it seemed all right.”

raised concerns over housing prices.

“The cost of living is going up.

“One thing I don’t agree with is land tax.

“Houses are expensive and with land tax going up landlords have to put the price up and the cost rises.

“One of these days we will out price ourselves,” he added.

But described the Budget as “wonderful”.

“The more you want, the more you pay. The Budget increases every year.

“What I don’t understand is why everyone wants the Government to supply them with houses.”

was happy to see a tax hike on cigarettes.

“Hopefully it will encourage people to quit,” she said.

added that the “average worker” always ends up being hit the hardest. “I’m just tired of the average worker suffering.

“I don’t mind if alcohol and cigarettes go up but if the general employee tax goes up then workers suffer because not everyone is guaranteed a cost of living increase-that’s hard.”

said: “A lot of hard decisions were made but they were pretty equitable.

“We always have to worry about debt, but we are still in a pretty sound economic state.

“As long as we are spending on investment and not consumption.”