Committee chairman Sen. Mark Rudimch in an interview said the committee has “heavily considered” the inputs made by various sectors on the budget especially the tourism organizations.
The tour organizations have opposed the proposed increase in taxes saying that it will impact the tourism industry.
Members of the committee met yesterday to continue tackling the matter.
Rudimch said that there are members of the committee who have raised concerns on the supplemental budget.
However, the committee will reach a consensus by this week to start supplemental budget deliberation.
The April regular session is scheduled on April 13, the Senate has to call a special session if the supplemental budget is to be expedited.
The president is asking the Olbiil Era Kelulau an additional sum of $3,613,000 to supplement the general operations of the national government.
In the supplemental budget the president included a proposed increase in hotel room tax from the current ten percent to 15 percent.
A scuba diving tax of $5 per dive for divers was included in the proposed taxes in the supplemental budget.
The tour organizations have opposed the proposed increase in taxes saying that it will impact the tourism industry.
The supplemental budget has also proposed an increase in the departure tax paid by Palauans from $10 to $20.
The president also recommended in the supplemental budget that every April of the year, each non-Palauan workers, or foreigners residing in Palau register and pay $25 each for the annual alien registration.
An additional four percent tax imposed on employees earning over $25,000 a year was also recommended.
This provision however will only be imposed for a year. Currently employees collecting salaries ranging from $8,000 and above yearly pay a 12 percent tax.
The government will also want an increase in import tax on food and medicine.
In the supplemental budget the president is requesting nearly a $1 million for his office which is an additional $200,000.
