1999, according to statistics released yesterday in the Bermuda Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics.

In 1998 the Government spent a total of $130 million during the third quarter, compared to $131.2 million this year, an increase of nearly one percent.

The public debt, however, fell from 1.1 million last year to 0.9 million this year.

The amount spent on wages and salaries went up by nearly 18 percent from $58.

million to $68.5 million. The figure for grants and contributions also rose from $22.9 million to $24.7 million.

In a section tabled `other goods and services' spending fell from $31.9 million to $27 million.

The total current expenditure for the third quarter of 1999 stands at $121.1 million, compared to $113.9 million last year, an increase of 6 percent.

Capital Expenditure fell from $16.1 million last year to $10.1 million this year, a drop of nearly 60 percent.

Government revenue fell slightly for this quarter, from $136.8 million to $137.1 million.

Customs duty raised $43.8 million, a fall of $1.5 million. Payroll tax raised more than last year, up from $32.6 million to $38.3 million. Money raised from international companies stands at $1 million for this quarter, up from $0.7 million last year.

Hotel occupancy tax raised $4.9 million, down from $5.2 million last year.

Land tax was also down on the third quarter of last year with revenues going from $11.4 million to $3.9 million.

Vehicle licences raised $3.8 million, passenger tax $11.5 million and stamp duty $7.1 million.

Telecommunications tax raised $1.5 million, down on last year.

From other sources the Government raised $21.3 million.