The Legislative Assembly of the Irkutsk region approved the regions 2009 budget in second and third readings. Revenues will be 60.4 billion rubles, expenses 61.7 billion, and the deficit 1.4 billion. About 60 percent of spending will still go to social needs, healthcare, education and agriculture. The government says this budget process was one of the most difficult in recent years, but it was handled as a business matter, not a political one.
Today, at the session of the region’s Legislative Assembly, deputies approved the financial document in the second and third readings. After the law on the budget of the Irkutsk Region is signed by the governor, which should happen very soon, municipalities will be able to adopt their own budgets.According to the approved budget, the region’s revenues next year will amount to 60.4 billion rubles, which is 8% higher than the 2008 figure. Expenditures will total 61.7 billion rubles, which is 7.2% less than this year’s spending. The 2009 budget deficit amounts to 1.4 billion rubles, or 2.9%. As reported earlier, the budget continues to maintain a social focus — about 60% of expenditures will go toward these needs. In addition, great attention will be paid to such areas as healthcare, education, and agriculture.
As noted at the session by the Deputy Chairman of the Government of the Irkutsk Region, Alexander Vedernikov, a common position of the Government and the region’s Legislative Assembly will be developed on the allocation of additional revenues.
– Perhaps over the past few years this was the most difficult budget process, – Alexander Vedernikov emphasized. – I would especially like to note that the work on the budget took place in a financial and economic, rather than an emotional and political, sphere. Thank you to the deputies for their responsible approach to drafting the main financial document of the Irkutsk Region.