S Highlands present its 2015 budget to Pruaitch

 OIL and gas-rich Southern Highlands has presented its K366 million budget for 2015 to Treasurer Patrick Pruaitch.  

Governor William Powi described it as a restoration and rehabilitation budget structured mainly to revamp, re-develop and construct existing and new infrastructure.

He told Pruaitch the target of the budget was to upgrade all infrastructure, including elementary and primary schools, 38 health facilities, nine high schools, seven secondary schools, a nursing college, teachers’ college, 46 provincial feeder roads and other essential services. Powi said the delay in presenting the final draft of the budget was due to not being able to include income estimates from the LNG project earmarked for the province.

He said as soon as confirmation was received from the State on the accumulated amount owed, the budget would be revised to factor extra revenue. Pruaitch said he was impressed with the activity plan put forward and would work with the province to factor in the missing revenue.