Government-by-Government Assessments: Belize
During the review period, the government made its enacted budget, end-of-year report, and information on debt obligations widely accessible to the public, including online. However, it did not publish an executive budget proposal within a reasonable period. Information on debt obligations were widely and easily accessible to the public, including online. Publicly available budget documents provided a substantially complete picture of the government’s planned expenditures and revenue streams, including natural resource revenues. Budget information was generally reliable. While the supreme audit institution met international standards of independence, it did not publish audit reports within a reasonable period.
Belize’s fiscal transparency would be improved by:
* Publishing its executive budget proposal within a reasonable period; and
* Ensuring the supreme audit institution audits the government’s executed budget and makes audit reports publicly available within a reasonable period.
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs
