Deputies approved amendments to the budget of the Vitebsk region

The current economic and budget performance trends in the region constantly require the adoption of effective measures to optimize expenditures, reallocate them to the most relevant areas, and utilize reserves at all levels of the budget system. These issues were the focus of an extraordinary session of the Regional Council of Deputies held on September 21.

Deputies approved a number of amendments to the regional budget, aimed at aligning expenditure plans with revenues, clarifying funding sources, and promptly addressing a number of current issues related to the region's life support.

In particular, additional funds are being transferred as intergovernmental transfers to the Dubrovno District Executive Committee to finance preparatory work for the rural workers' festival "Dazhynki-2017", and to the Postavy District Executive Committee for the development of infrastructure and strengthening the material and technical base of the "Ozerki" tourist and sports complex.

In addition, the Committee for Agriculture and Food of the Regional Executive Committee will receive an additional 7.2 million rubles for the payment of bonuses for delivered products. Additional financial expenditures from the budget were required for the implementation of the Decree of the Head of State of August 25 No. 320 "On the Development of Agricultural Production in the Vitebsk Region". As opportunities arise, measures are being taken to pay off accounts payable and to additionally infuse financial resources into the construction of infrastructure facilities financed from the regional budget, particularly in residential development areas.

As noted by Boris Kichanovsky, Head of the Main Financial Department of the Regional Executive Committee, since the beginning of the year, it has been possible to reduce budget debts by 17 million rubles, which amounted to 27 million as of September 1.

Reporting to the deputies on the budget execution for 8 months, Boris Kichanovsky noted the insufficient pace of revenue collection from a number of income sources, which is due to the slowdown in the growth rate of gross regional product. In total, during this period, 714 million rubles were credited to local budgets, or less than 62% of the annual revenue plan.

The situation necessitates concentrating resources on fulfilling priority budget obligations (salaries, vacation pay, medications, subsidies, and transfers to the population, etc.), which account for over 70% of the treasury's expenditure structure.

Sergey Antonov. Photo by Anton Stepanishchev. Vitebskiye Vesti.