PHILIPSBURG--Parliament had Cg. 13,719,670 at its disposal for 2025 and spent Cg. 13,304,941, with salaries and related costs of Members of Parliament (MPs) and faction staff accounting for the largest share of spending at 47.55%, according to Parliament’s 2025-2026 Annual Report.
The budget covered both Parliament’s expenses under budget post 2020 and the expenses of the Secretariat of Parliament under budget post 2030.
Travel expenses for MPs accounted for 6.54% of actual expenditures, while representation expenses accounted for 1.86%.
Salaries and other related costs of Secretariat staff accounted for 22.20% of spending. Other operating expenses accounted for 21.85%.
The report states that these other operating expenses included fuel for vehicles, office, kitchen and cleaning supplies, obligations arising from contracts with third parties such as the lease of the Parliament building, books and subscriptions, uniforms for Secretariat staff, legal and professional advisory services, courses and training, memberships and other related expenditures.
In accordance with Article 35, sub a, of the Compatibility Ordinance and Article 17, paragraph 1, of the Rules of Order of Parliament, the draft budget of Parliament for budget year 2026 was submitted to the Minister of Finance on August 11, 2025, under reference UV/336/2024-2025.
The draft budget had been deliberated upon and approved by the Presidium on May 12, 2025. An amended draft budget was subsequently deliberated upon and approved by the Presidium on August 11, 2025.
The National Ordinance establishing the budget for Country Sint Maarten for budget year 2026 was adopted on August 27, 2026.
For budget year 2026, Cg. 16,565,018 was approved for Parliament. The amount includes Parliament’s operational expenses, the operational expenses of the Secretariat of Parliament and pension obligations for former political office holders.
