Tax campaign to cost £20-30k, not £200k
ISLANDERS' appetite for a goods and services tax is soon to be tested by a comprehensive publicity campaign from the States.
But that campaign will not be costing anything like £200,000, the States has said.
The Guernsey Press briefly ran an incorrect story quoting that figure online earlier today, and although it deleted the post, it has led to feverish speculation.
Policy & Resources has estimated £200,000 for the total costs of the second phase of the tax review, including all the necessary design and development work needed for future reforms to the Bailiwick's tax and social security systems.
The committee confirmed yesterday: 'Only a very small portion of this, in the region of £20-30,000, will support a public engagement campaign which will include live broadcasts, online materials and a roadshow of drop-in events in various locations around the Bailiwick, including Alderney, where islanders can discuss the tax review directly with the political members leading it.'
Policy & Resources treasury lead Mark Helyar discussed the campaign at Wednesday's Scrutiny Management Committee hearing. 'We have to take the public with us,' he said.
Deputy Helyar stressed the importance of the States spending only on what was needed, to regain public trust, and to make a new tax more acceptable to the community.
The alternative to the introduction of a goods and services tax being raised is a 6% increase in income tax.
The Guernsey Press apologises for the error. The correct version of the story ran in today's newspaper.
