Revised 2014 Draft Budget

Government has submitted to the Parliament a revised draft of 2014 state budget, which sets revenues at almost GEL 7.32 billion and expenditures at GEL 7.22 billion – both figures are lower than it was in the initial draft.

Tax revenues have also been revised downward compared to initial draft by GEL 23 million to 6.82 billion; the figure is GEL 100 million less than targeted this year. In 2013 income from tax revenues is falling short of the target.

Economic growth forecast remains at 5% for next year, according to the draft. The government has revised downward 2013 growth forecast from initial 6% to 2.5%; according to the state statistics office real GDP grew 1.9% year-on-year in the first ten months of this year.

According to the draft budget, government plans to raise GEL 600 million next year through issuing securities GEL 400 million of which will be used for covering budgetary expenses and repaying parts of state debt. GEL 200 million, according to the government, will be placed as a deposit in commercial banks to make it available for long-term loans in national currency.

Compared to initial draft, in the revised document funding of healthcare, education, agriculture and infrastructure ministries are decreased and funding of the Ministry of Economy increased by GEL 62 million.

Breakdown of funding per ministry, according to the revised draft of 2014 budget, is as follows:

• Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection – GEL 2.65 billion (2013 – GEL 2.345 billion; 2012 – GEL 1.821 billion);
• Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure – GEL 875 million (2013 – GEL 928.5 million);
• Ministry of Education and Science – GEL 754.3 million (2013 – GEL 673.2 million);
• Ministry of Agriculture – GEL 263.5 million (2013 – GEL 241 million);
• Defense Ministry – GEL 660 million (same as in 2013; figure stood at GEL 730.6 million in 2012 and at GEL 711 million in 2011);
• Interior Ministry – GEL 570 million (2013 – GEL 570 million; 2012 – GEL 587.8 million; 2011 – GEL 568 million);
• Ministry of Energy – GEL 114.6 million (2013 – GEL 118.7 million);
• Finance Ministry – GEL 96 million (2013 – GEL 100 million );
• Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development – GEL 87 million (2013 – GEL 55 million);
• Justice Ministry – GEL 60.5 million (2013 – GEL 71.4 million);
• Prison system ministry – GEL 157 million (2013 – GEL 174.3 mln);
• Foreign Ministry – GEL 90 million (2013 – GEL 80 mln);
• Ministry of Culture and Protection of Monuments – GEL 80 million (same as in 2013);
• Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs – GEL 53.9 million (2013 – GEL 47.2 million);
• Ministry of Environment Protection – GEL 31 million (2013 – GEL 25.9 million);
• Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Accommodation and Refugees – GEL 48 million (same in 2013);
• State Ministry for Reintegration – GEL 1.3 million (same in 2013);
• State Ministry for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration – GEL 2.8 million (2013 – GEL 2.3 million);
• State Ministry for Diaspora Issues – GEL 900,000 (2013 – GEL 850 thousand). 

According to the revised budget, funding of the government’s chancellery will be doubled to GEL 20 million compared to the initial draft; President’s administration will receive GEL 9 million that is by GEL 20,000 more compared to this year’s funding. Funding of Parliament is set at GEL 52 million.

Next year the President’s discretionary reserve fund will be halved to GEL 5 million, while the government’s similar fund will remain unchanged at GEL 50 million.

Compared to initial draft, funding of courts has been increased in the part of salaries: Constitutional Court – GEL 3.3 million (2013 – GEL 2.6 million); Supreme Court – GEL 6.6 million (2013 – GEL 5.5 million); common courts – GEL 47.4 million (2013 – GEL 34.9 million).

Funding of Geostat, state statistics office, will significantly increase from current GEL 4.5 to GEL 14.6 million with GEL 8.8 million to be spent on population census planned in 2014.

According to the draft budget, all the offices of governors will receive increased funding by several thousands of Lari; funding of local municipalities will also increase by total of GEL 76 million; but Tbilisi is an exemption whose funding from the central government will be cut by GEL 49.9 million and amount to GEL 398 million next year.

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