2008-02-17《聯合早報》 zaobao 杜豔嫦
一般民眾對於政府前天宣佈的財政預算表示歡迎，但也有部分人士考慮到物價不斷高漲，擔心所獲得的“紅包”只是杯水車薪，實際作用不大。
另一方面，也有公眾認為政府分派的紅包款額雖然不大，但多少能起緩衝作用。
對於政府將為51歲以上的國人填補保健儲蓄戶頭，接受本報訪問的年輕人用“甜美”這兩字來形容這個做法，因為這可以減輕他們對父母未來醫療費用的負擔。
財政部長尚達曼前天宣佈，由於經濟蓬勃發展，政府去年取得64億元的盈餘，遠遠超過原本預計的7億元赤字。
政府決定在新財政年度裡，通過多個途徑與國人分享18億元的“紅包”，其中8億6500元將充作增長花紅，21歲或以上的國人將在今年4月和10月分兩次獲得分紅。
同時，財長也宣佈政府將採取五大策略緩解物價上漲。
受訪的公眾認為增長花紅人人有份，可說是皆大歡喜。可是，國人比較關注的是政府分發的紅包是否能幫助他們減低物價高漲所帶來的生活壓力。
一個受訪的家庭就說，這是一筆額外的款項，雖然國人面對的通貨膨脹率介於4.5％到5％，即使是獲得2000元至3000元的一次過分紅，也未必能幫助大家應付高漲的物價，但是大家都同意“有總是好過沒有”。
也有人表示，低收入者在這次的財政預算中得益最多，對於夾心層而言，還是搔不到癢處。一個在這次的預算案中將可獲得大約3000元花紅的家庭說，他們的家庭開銷每月大約2000元，這筆花紅頂多只能抵消不到兩個月的開銷，下來還是得面對通脹的壓力。
受訪的學者則認為，生活負擔沉重的群體，包括有還未入學孩子的家庭、準備成立家庭的年輕人，以及沒有收入的家庭主婦，應該獲得更多幫助。
有學者表示，政府出現了十多年來最高的財政盈餘，與人民分享的盈利並沒有期望的那麼多，政府的開銷增加不大。
至於政府宣佈放寬助學金的申請資格，受訪的家庭說，這對家庭人均收入剛好超越收入最低20%家庭、之前不符合申請條件的人，多少有一些幫助。不過，三所大學剛宣佈調高學費，他們擔心放寬助學金的做法對學生和家長的幫助可能不大。
一般公眾對前景存有憂慮，尤其是面對日益高漲的物價。他們瞭解到那是全球現象，政府在這方面能做的不多。因此，無論政府能給予怎樣的幫忙，他們都會樂意接受。
至於已有消息傳出美國的經濟會緩慢下來，公眾擔心這會影響就業前景，致使大家的生活水準下降。有鑑於此，他們表示下來用錢會比較謹慎。
Growth Dividends, Life Bonuses for Singaporeans 2008/2/16
The Singapore government has unveiled what can be called a ’surplus sharing’ national budget for financial year 2008.
Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, in delivering his Budget Statement in Parliament on Friday, said the government had a surplus of $6.4 billion for the financial year 2007 — the largest since the FY1999 — thanks to the strong economic growth.
Singapore’s economy had an exceptional growth of 7.7% last year, with the largest boost to revenues coming from an exceptionally buoyant property market.
The government will share the budget surplus with Singaporeans. It will give away a total of S$1.8 billion to individuals and households, in particular to the elderly, poor and needy to cope with rising costs.
Businesses too will get help to cope with higher costs to ensure Singapore remains competitive. These include changes in tax policies to encourage risk—taking and new ideas.
After giving out the goodies, the government will end up with a deficit of S$0.8 billion this financial year.
The Goodies — Growth Dividends
Among the goodies are the Growth Dividends which the government will give to all adult Singaporeans, to be paid out in two instalments in April and October this year.
A lower—income Singaporean living in a three—room HDB flat or smaller, will receive a Growth Dividend of S$400. This is on top of the S$250 in GST Credits that he will be getting this year.
The majority of Singaporeans, who live in other HDB flats and do not have high incomes, will receive a Growth Dividend of S$300 (on top of the S$200 in GST Credits that he will get this year).
Older Singaporeans, aged 60 and above, will get more. Most older Singaporeans will receive one and a half times what other Singaporeans will receive.
Those with annual incomes of more than S$100,000 will receive a Growth Dividend of S$100.
Those who have served and are currently serving national service will get an additional S$100 of Growth Dividends as a recognition for their contributions to the nation.
As before, Singaporeans can donate their Growth Dividends to charity. The Growth Dividends will cost the government S$865 million this year.
L—Bonus
Mr Tharman also announced that a special bonus will be given to the first few cohorts of CPF members who join the newly announced CPF Life scheme.
From 2013, CPF members will join CPF Life automatically when they turn 55 as long as they have at least S$40,000 in their Minimum Sum. The first cohort to do this will be those aged 50 this year.
But the government also wants to encourage those with less than S$40,000 as well as members who are older than 50 this year to join the scheme when they turn 55.
Hence, the government will provide a sign—on bonus for the first five cohorts of CPF members who join CPF Life, in other words, those aged 46 to 50 this year.
"We call this the LIFE Bonus, or the L—Bonus. It will be given to members when they enrol in the scheme at age 55," said Mr Tharman.
"The L—Bonus is targeted at the lower and middle—income CPF members. The L—Bonus will be given to members whose annual income when they sign on to the LIFE scheme is S$54,000 or less, and whose annual assessed property value is S$11,000 or less, which will include all HDB flats.
"These make up about 80 percent of the cohort aged 50 today, including those whose Minimum Sums are too low for them to be automatically enrolled in the LIFE scheme," he said.
The amount of the L—Bonus will vary such that older and less well—off members will receive more.
For most members aged 50 this year, they can expect to receive between S$2,200 and S$4,000. A 50—year—old who lives in a five—room flat and earns between S$24,000 and S$54,000 will receive S$2,200.
However, a 50—year—old who lives in a three—room flat and earns less than S$24,000 annually will receive S$4,000 when he joins the CPF Life scheme. If he has S$40,000 in his Minimum Sum, this amounts to 10% of his retirement savings.
The youngest eligible cohort, those aged 46 today, will get around 30% of what the 50—year—old receives.
To facilitate greater participation and opt—in by CPF members who are not automatically included in the CPF Life scheme, the government will extend the L—Bonus to them.
"Therefore, if members have less than S$40,000 in their Minimum Sum, but want to participate in the LIFE scheme, we will help them to do so and give them the L—Bonus as long as they are willing to make a reasonable contribution to their balances and accept lower monthly payouts," said Mr Tharman.
He added: "This is particularly important for many of the women, who may have been housewives or stopped working early and do not have enough in their accounts. The L—Bonus will encourage their husbands or other family members to top up their accounts so that they can join the scheme.
"We will also extend the L—Bonus to older members above the age of 50 this year who choose to opt into the scheme. They can opt in when they reach 55. (But if they have already passed 55 when the scheme is introduced, they will have to opt in within a year from then.) All these older members who choose to opt in will receive the same amount of L—Bonuses as those aged 50 this year."
The government is to set aside S$770 million over three years for the L—Bonuses, including S$260 million out of this year’s Budget.
Tax rebate
The government keeps the top personal tax rate unchanged at 20 percent but it will give an income tax rebate of 20% for all resident taxpayers for Year of Assessment 2008. The rebate will be capped at $2,000.
"Having this cap allows us to target the rebate at those below the top income brackets," said Mr Tharman.
The income tax rebates will cost the government $380 million.
Top—ups to CPF Medisave Accounts
Mr Tharman also said the government will provide a one—off top—up to Medisave accounts to help older Singaporeans pay for their medical bills and increased MediShield premiums.
The top—ups will be for Singaporeans aged 51 and above in 2008. For those aged 51 to 60, the top—up will be S$150. For those aged 61 to 70, it will be S$250, while those aged 71 to 75 will get a S$350 top—up. Singaporeans aged 76 and above will get Medisave top—ups of S$450.
The initiative will cost the government S$220 million.
Comcare Fund top—up
For the elderly and the poor in the community, beyond the help in healthcare, the government is refining the other safety nets for them.
The ComCare Fund — set up to help the poor — will be topped up by $200 million, bringing it to $800 million.
Meanwhile the monthly public assistance rate for a single—person household will be raised from the current $290 to $330.
Enhancing Business Competitiveness
The Budget also sees a slate of measures to help businesses cope with costs, encourage innovation and enhance competitiveness. These include measures to boost research and development, incentives for the financial sector, and enhancements to develop Singapore as a maritime hub.
Creating a top quality economy
Young people and education will also get a large investment as part of the government’s drive to boost the economy to what it calls "a top quality economy".
For example students below 20 years old will get cash top—ups — ranging from $150 to $600 — to their post—secondary education account.
The government will also help needy tertiary students with more financial support. Bursary amounts for university and polytechnic students have been increased by about 50% and qualifying criteria relaxed.
Mr Tharman said: "The key to our success will be our people and our enterprises. Whether we make the most of our opportunities, whether we grow, and whether we hold our place in the top league, will ultimately depend on whether our people and enterprises are top quality, in every job and business they do." — CNA/ir
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