By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.
Horizon news staff

Latest data from the Bureau of National Treasury showed that government revenue collection in fiscal year 2007 has slightly increased compared to the total figure in 2006.
Senate Floor Leader Alan Seid, who chairs the Committee on Ways and Means and Financial Matters, released the data to media during the second day of the public hearing on the 2008 budget on Tuesday Oct. 9 at the Old OEK Building.
In his report dated Oct. 3, as per request by the Committee, BNT Director Marino Rechesengel explained that the the 2000 to 2006 figures on revenue collections were based on audit reports while the data on 2007 which has just been ended has not been audited because these were taken from the BNT’s financial system.
He said that the fish export revenues are included in the report, however, the BNT does not collect statistics on fish.
He also said that hotel occupancy I salso included in the report while live aboard rooms in the report as vessel cabin and foreign water vessel.
The data showed that the total collection for 2007 was $36,023,947, which was higher by $254,551 as compared to the $2006 figures of $35,769,396.
The new revenue, however, was way below the country’s highest level of $38,268,193 that was collected in 2005.
The other collections in the previous years were $27,160,110 (FY2000), $30,521,053 (FY2001), $26,999,895 (FY2002), $28,368,909 (FY2003) and $38,268,193 (FY2004).
The total collections in taxes for 2007 was increased to $30,507,671 compared to $29,375,528 in 2006. Total licenses and fees dropped to $1,591,997 as compared to $2,344,664. Total fees and charges slightly upped to $3,356,66 from last year’s $3,354,863.
All other fees (indirect cost recoveries and PMDC sales and others) went down from $665,510 to $556,357.