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12.12.2013

Belarus budget bill passes first reading

MINSK, 12 December (BelTA) – The bill on the central state budget for 2014 passed the first reading in the Belarus parliament on 12 December, BelTA has learned.

Presenting the bill at the session of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly, Belarusian Finance Minister Andrei Kharkovets remarked that the next year’s central state budget had been compiled without any deficit. The document takes into account all the revenues and has balanced liabilities against funding sources.

In 2014 revenues of the central state budget are expected at Br128,594.1 billion, 19% up from the expected budget execution in 2013. Expenses of the central state budget are expected to equal the revenues, 15.2% up from 2013.

In 2014 revenues of the consolidated budget are supposed to reach Br205,984.7 billion, 7.9% up from the expected budget execution in 2013. Expenses of the consolidated budget will equal revenues, 6% up.

The primary goals of government spending in 2014 will be the enhancement of the stability and the competitive ability of the national economy, guaranteed execution of financial liabilities of the state budget towards domestic and foreign creditors, the preservation of the quality of budget services and the social protection of vulnerable population strata.

The social direction of state budget spending will be preserved. Money to pay salaries, pensions, maintenance allowance to students, other payments, and money to maintain state social standards will make up a large part of the budget spending. Budget funding will also secure the stable operation of education and healthcare.

Chairwoman of the Budget and Finance Commission of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Lyudmila Dobrynina acted as a supporting speaker. Belarusian MPs asked questions regarding the funding of priority branches of the national economy and lowest-income population strata. In particular, parliamentarian Vladislav Tsydik raised the issue of the state tax on automobiles while Olga Politiko drew attention to the replenishment of municipal budgets.