NT budget may feature some tough decisions

The Northern Territory budget is likely to include belt-tightening measures to cut debt, as well as the government's plans to boost the resources industry and food production.

Treasurer Dave Tollner will hand down the document on Tuesday, hours ahead of the release of the federal budget in Canberra.

"The budget will secure our children's future by making the decisions necessary today to ensure we do not stifle the opportunities for our children tomorrow," he told the NT parliament in the lead-up to his second budget announcement.

"This government will remain steadfast in its efforts to reduce spending and get this generation living within its means."

The budget is expected to lay down plans to boost mineral exploration and capitalise on rapidly growing food demand from the Asia region.

"It will ensure our economy is diversified and equipped with the infrastructure required to capitalise on these opportunities into the future," Mr Tollner said.

Better school facilities are planned, after the Country Liberal Party-led government made a series of pre-budget funding announcements ahead of last month's Blain by-election.

They include $57 million for two schools in Palmerston, a $5 million expansion of the sports voucher scheme, which will allow families to claim $200 per child on sports and recreation, and a $1.7 million increase in the childcare subsidy.

Some $11.6 million has also been earmarked for the construction of a new open education centre at Darwin High School.

But Mr Tollner has cautioned Territorians some difficult decisions are on the way to cut debt and government waste.

"I do not want the energy of future generations to be drained by paying back someone else's debt, debt created by the previous generation," Mr Tollner said.

When the CLP won government in 2012, Labor was forecasting NT debt of $5.5 billion in 2015/16. That projection is now $4.6 billion.

In November, the NT forecast a fiscal deficit of $349 million for the 2014/15 financial year.