The Chisinau Municipal Council on May 1 adopted the 2017 municipal budget in the final reading. The revenues were projected at 3.356 billion lei, while the expenditure at 3.775 billion lei. The deficit, which totals over 418 million lei, will be covered with money earned from the sale of publicly-owned apartments to the population, with external and internal loans, IPN reports.

Under the bill, the general revenues of the 2017 municipal budget consist of own revenues of over 411 million lei, state taxes and duties of over 1 billion lei and taxes from services provided for money of over 65 million lei, rental for public property of over 15million lei, taxes from the purchase of foreign currency by private individuals at currency exchange facilities of 9 million lei, etc.

Compared with the 2016 budget, the municipal budget revenues this year are by over 286 million lei or 9.3% higher and by 6.7% higher on the fulfilled budget for 2016.

The 2017 expenditure is by over 566 million lei or 17.7% higher than the approved 2016 spending. The social costs represent almost 60% of the expenditure.

The municipal budget for 2017 was carried in the first reading this February, when the revenues were set at 3.277 billion lei, while the expenditure at 3.667 billion lei.