Preparation

In the preparation phase, the government sets its policy objectives for the upcoming fiscal year. The fiscal year is equivalent to the calendar year. In order to implement government policies, resources must be allocated to carry out the necessary tasks and activities. In this manner, government policy serves as the foundation for the budget. Parliament authorizes the government to execute the policies in the budget by approving the national ordinance which establishes the ministries’ budgets.

The ministries’ budgets are prepared in accordance with the following guidelines and regulations (which are in Dutch):

  • Chapter II of Comptabiliteitsverordening 1989 (CV1989), i.e. the accounting ordinance;
  • Regeling Centrale Begrotings- en Financiële Administratie (RCBFA), i.e. the regulation on government budget and financial administration;
  • Regeling Overige Financiële Administratie (ROFA), i.e. the regulation on other financial administration;
  • Landsbesluit Openbare Aanbestedingen (LOA), i.e. the state decree on public procurement.

Budget documents submitted to Parliament before September 1:

  • cover letter to Parliament;
  • draft national ordinance to establish the budgets of the ministries;
  • explanatory memorandum on the government budget;
  • the advice of the Aruba Financial Supervision Board (CAft);
  • the advice of the Advisory Council;
  • additional report which includes the response of the government to the advice of the Advisory Council.

The additional report which contains the response of the government to questions from Parliament and possible amendment notes from the government are also part of the process. Since 2024 a budget note is prepared to give citizens better insight into how public funds are allocated and spent. After the budget is treated and approved by Parliament, the national ordinance is formally published in the Official Gazette of Aruba.

Below you will find all documents (in Dutch) related to the draft budget and any budget amendments.

Important dates

  • Before (or no later than) March 1: Each head of department submits its baseline estimates for the next fiscal year (ROFA Art. 3).
  • Before May 1: The Minister of Finance receives the May Letter from the Department of Finance, containing the integration of the ministries’ baseline estimates into the applicable financial-economic framework.
  • Early July: The Aruba Financial Supervision Board (CAft) receives the draft budget for review (LAft Art. 10).
  • Mid-July: The draft budget is submitted to the Advisory Council in accordance with the constitution of Aruba (Staatsregeling van Aruba Art. IV. 1).
  • Mid-August: Final changes to the draft budget are made based on the advices from the CAft and the Advisory Council.
  • No later than September 1: The draft budget for the upcoming fiscal year is submitted by the government to Parliament in accordance with the constitution of Aruba (Staatsregeling di Aruba Art. V.12).

Glossary

  • Draft budget: A preliminary budget that provides an estimate of expected revenues and expenditures for a specific fiscal year. The budget law can only be formally approved by Parliament.
  • Amendment note: A document used to introduce changes to the (draft) budget. The note includes the justification for the proposed amendments.
  • Supplementary budget and/or budget amendment: A law proposal to amend the approved budget which is currently being executed.
  • Approved budget (amendment): A draft budget (amendment) that has been formally approved - with or without modifications - by Parliament.
  • Spring note: This note informs Parliament in the spring about the areas in the budget where the government plans to implement changes and how it intends to finance them.
  • Fall note: This note informs Parliament in the fall about the areas in the budget where the government plans to implement changes and how it intends to finance them.
  • Budget note: An explanatory document to the draft budget, which outlines the main decisions of the government for the upcoming fiscal year. It is a brief summary of the draft budget law, which is submitted to Parliament no later than September 1.
  • Additional report, which is known as nader rapport in Dutch: This is the government’s response to the advice by the Advisory Council.
  • Note in response to the report: It contains the government’s answers to questions from Parliament regarding the draft budget (amendment).

Budget documents