Aurigny under fire as Budget backed
HUNDREDS of islanders will pay £100 a year less in tax next year, while Aurigny will get an £11.8m temporary overdraft, after the States yesterday approved the 2018 Budget.
Deputies also gave the thumbs up to duty rises on fuel, alcohol and tobacco – motor fuel will go up by 3.5p a litre, alcohol will rise by 5% meaning a litre of spirits will increase by 63p.
Duty on a pack of 20 cigarettes will rise by just under 8%, from £4.63 to £4.99.
But while Policy & Resources presented the Budget as having ‘no surprises,’ members still found plenty to debate, with the subject of Aurigny, in particular, cropping up in many speeches, not least of which was a powerful and impassioned one from Alderney representative Louis Jean in which he begged the States to act and sort out problems with the airline’s management.
‘Aurigny has been providing an appalling service to Alderney,’ he said. ‘I ask now for your help.’
Full story in today's Guernsey Press
