The budget of Chisinau municipality for 2018 was approved in the first reading in the December 1 meeting of the Chisinau Municipal Council. The budget provides for revenues of 3.6 billion lei and for an expenditure of 3.9 billion lei. The deficit is of 279.6 million lei, IPN reports.

Zinaida Jaloba, acting head of the General Finance Division, said the revenues projected for 2018 are by 264.7 million lei higher than this year. This is an increase of 8%. The deficit will be covered with internal and external loans, with revenues from selling apartments and interest rates on loans.

The social spending will total 2.4 billion lei. The money will be directed to education, culture, healthcare and social protection. The councilors supported acting mayor Silvia Radu’s proposal to increase the allocations for social support programs by 25 million lei. The costs for public amenities, transport and road infrastructure were planned at 1.04 billion lei. A sum of 100,000 lei was earmarked for the investment and capital repair program.

Socialist councilor Ion Ceban congratulated his colleagues, saying that for the first time in the last ten years the budget was approved before the start of the new budgetary year.

Liberal councilor Iurie Topala welcomed the approval of the municipal budget on December 1, when it is celebrated Romania’s National Day.

The budget was agreed by the votes of 33 councilors.