All eyes turn to the Budget tomorrow as the public wonder whether the Progressive Labour Party will honour election promises of free public transport and free Bermuda College education for Bermudians.

Providing free public transport is thought to cost around $10 million a year while free college tuition would cost about $1 million — with Randy Horton last week dropping a massive hint that fee breaks at Bermuda College would be included in tomorrow's Budget.

Bermuda Employers Council president Graham Redford said funding of costly Throne Speech promises was a potential concern.

He hoped the programmes would be phased in and not require heavy borrowing or increased tax on business. "We would hope to see Government curtailing some of its spending in other areas to pay for these programmes."

Responsible handling of the economy is particularly important in a global climate that sees a potential recession and significantly increasing energy costs, said Mr. Redford.

But he said the BEC completely supported efforts to improve public education and, in particular, to boost work force development. "We trust Government will provide the resources for this but in a way that will guarantee accountability in the system.

"The Minister of Finance has previously demonstrated a thoughtful, strategic and balanced handling of the public purse and the economy and we trust that this will continue with this budget."

Poverty campaigner Sheelagh Cooper said she hoped both the free education and free transport initiatives would feature in Government's spending plans for the coming year.

Ending the need for fares on buses and ferries would put more money in the pockets of the poor and also eliminate administration costs, she said, while free college tuition would also help Bermudians in the poverty trap retrain.

But she pointed out education problems started much younger.

"Most of the kids we deal with never get as far as GED," she said. "They don't live in circumstances that will let them do homework. They don't have electricity or a desk to study out."

And she claimed many troubled boys were expelled from the system altogether — their only option then was home schooling or to wander the streets.

Mrs. Cooper said homelessness was sometimes a cause of a child's problem behaviour and the symptoms were often spotted early on.

"Government should provide homes for parents," she said. "A roof over a child's head should be a basic human right for every child in this country. It's a right not a privilege."

Details on Government's low interest down payment loans for 500 Bermudian families are also likely to unveiled during the Budget debate while having promised action in the Throne Speech, Government is likely to carry out a pledge to remove red tape which bars seniors from getting their pensions if they haven't applied during a set time.

Transport was a key part of last year's Budget but some pledges remain unfilled.

Premier Dr. Ewart Brown had promised 25 new buses but Public Transport Board director Dann Simmons was surprised by that when The Royal Gazette asked him about progress recently. He said ten large buses had arrived last summer and while there was an order for five minibuses, only two have arrived because of a technical problem with the manufacturer.

Mr. Simmons said the buses were being tested and a schedule was being drawn up and they could be linking up with the main bus routes in St. George's and St. David's from March. However, the importation of the other buses could be months away.

Last year's Budget also pledged to run buses every 15 minutes from 6 a.m. to midnight on routes seven, eight, ten and 11. The plan, due to start last April, was hailed a policy to help curb congestion and drunk driving.

But nearly a year on Mr. Simmons said the 'every 15 minutes' schedule was only running from around 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. because of staffing issues.

"We are working on it," said Mr. Simmons. "People are applying for positions in response to adverts as we speak."

He said 25 extra people were needed including both drivers and maintenance people but it was difficult to get quality recruits.

Any plans on expanding the schedule depended on hiring suitable staff and not losing so many existing drivers, said Mr. Simmons.

The Royal Gazette understands plans for implementing free child care for needy families, mentioned in the PLP election manifesto, are fairly well advanced with the issue now about deciding which families will qualify.

Family Centre executive director Martha Dismont said it was vital to have sustainable support for families under stress from Bermuda's voracious cost of living.

She suggested incentives for employers who let employees have time off for family business.

And she hopes Government has a look at the rising cost of living rather than continuing to subsidise everything for those who are struggling, even though immediate help was welcome.

"People want the pride of being able to afford to live in their country without getting subsidies from Government," she said.

The continuing push on prices were difficult to understand, said Ms Dismont. "Is someone marking things up three or four times to make a profit? It is about accountability in costs."

Sports fans will be looking for movement on completing the National Sports Centre in this year's Budget.

Last year Premier Dr. Ewart Brown said it could be finished by 2011 — if he remains in power that long.

In August, National Sports Centre Trustees chairman Dr. Gerard Bean admitted the project had been marking time for ages and while the trustees were still keen to complete it, commitment higher up was less solid and any new initiatives regarding the NSC were unlikely until after the election.

Unfinished elements include an international standards pool, a triple gym which can double as a convention centre, dressing rooms for football and cricket teams, a dormitory for 50 people and dining and lounge facilities.

However, the Government already has some major capital projects on the go including building a new court building/Police station in Court Street, resurfacing the runway and building the new cruise ship terminal in Dockyard which are all likely to get new injections of money this year.

Further funding may be required for the much delayed 100-unit Harbour View Village at Southside and other projects promised in last year's Budget including a 100-unit affordable housing complex at Ireland Island. Questions about the progress of those projects were not answered by Government by press time last night, despite several day's notice.

In last year's Budget promises on capital projects were scaled back from $220 million to $141 million as Government tried to more accurately reflect what could actually be done in the financial year.

And Government will need to start putting money aside for replacing the hospital if Government is to hit the 2012 deadline.

The plan now is to rebuild the 40-year-old hospital in phases at the existing site, with Health Minister Nelson Bascome saying last year that companies with work permit holders would be asked to contribute to the $500 million cost.

There are some other items still outstanding from the last Budget speech. A promised national multi-ethnic festival was not done as funds got diverted to other projects, however multiculturalism will be a key part of the Island's 400th anniversary celebrations next year, Government announced this week.

And Government has yet to follow through on a tax honeymoon on land tax for those renovating vacant and derelict homes which had been promised in last year's Budget.

A plan to provide satellite library systems to the east and west is still being worked on while the home delivery book service for seniors and shut-ins is a few weeks away from beginning although a van has been acquired.