This represents an increase of US$13.4 million to the US$64.3 million allotted the ministry in the 2014/2015 fiscal budget.

Disclosing this at the Ministry of Information special press conference held at the ministry in Monrovia Wednesday, Kollie said the amount represents the highest amount allotted to a single ministry or agency of government in the draft budget.

Kollie said the decision to increase the MOE allotment in the 2015/2016 fiscal budget came as a result of the demand in services offered by community colleges in the country which require increased budgetary allocation to enhance their operations.
 
Kollie also disclosed that a total of US$74.6 million dollars was allotted for the enhancement of security and the rule of law, while US$63. 2 million was allotted to the Ministry of Health and US$10.3 million for Energy and Environmental sector.
 
Speaking further, Kollie disclosed that a total of US$105 million has been allotted for public administration which comprises of the legislature, Foreign Affairs, Information, the Executive and Finance, among others.
 
According to the Deputy Finance Minister, US$5.2 million was allotted to the agriculture sector, while seven million was allotted to Commerce and Industry and a total of US$12.8 million allotted for Infrastructure and basic social services.
 
Kollie noted that the budget should be reviewed and analyzed by all Liberians so that people can be informed about allotments made to entities and government functionaries to enable them make significant inputs that will improve the budget.
 
“The budget is not money sitting in the bank, but it is an estimate of what we think we are going to collect and how we are going to spend it,” Kollie explained.
LINA/WSG/JGT/TSS