Jersey Government Proposes Budget with Targeted Family Support Measures
The proposed budget for 2027-2030 includes increased nursery hours, a doubled parental grant, and expanded free school meals.
Jersey's government has unveiled its proposed budget for 2027 to 2030, featuring a series of targeted measures aimed at alleviating the cost of living for families. The plan includes an increase in free nursery care hours for two to three-year-olds and a doubling of the parental grant for new parents or adoptive families.
The budget allocates an increased funding of £406 million to the Health Department, up from £381 million in 2026. Treasury Minister Alan Maclean described the proposed budget as "a step in the right direction" towards addressing concerns raised by the Fiscal Policy Panel last year, which indicated that Jersey was spending more than it was earning.
Chief Minister Lyndon Farnham highlighted the ongoing pressure on household budgets due to the cost of living, particularly concerning housing, childcare, and daily expenses, as well as challenges faced by businesses. "We are providing practical support to help put more money back into islanders' pockets, particularly for families facing the greatest pressures," Farnham stated in his foreword to the budget.
Key measures designed to assist families include:
- An increase in free nursery care for two to three-year-olds, from 15 hours per week to 20 hours.
- The parental grant will rise from £887.25 to £1,800 for families with newborns or those adopting a child.
- A £250 family support payment for each school-aged child in low to middle-income households in 2027.
- Free school meals will be extended to secondary school pupils who are part of the Jersey Premium funding scheme.
Maclean expressed his hope that these measures will provide meaningful assistance, acknowledging that while "a lot more needs to be done," the government has focused on directing available resources to those most in need. He also noted that the budget's support extends beyond families, with pensions being uprated by 4.7% and a community cost bonus introduced to aid individuals not in families who typically fall just above income thresholds.