When News 5 asked Financial Secretary Joseph Waight if the government can afford the salary increase that teachers are demanding, he said, “We can barely afford what we are doing right now.”
According to Waight, the government is already struggling to manage its current expenditure levels. “And it continues. Every point increase is seven million dollars for one percentage point. Do the math,” he said.
Waight noted that his office constantly analyzes the figures. “We do it every day to determine how much it would cost. But the bigger question is how will you pay for it?” he asked.
He added, “But we have to look at it, see where things can come. Hopefully we don’t have to raise taxes, but you never know.”
The government has previously said it is open to gradual reinstatement but has warned that a full, immediate reversal could place the national budget under unsustainable pressure.
