2012 Chisinau Budget ready for final approval

The 2012 draft Chisinau Budget has been finished prior to its consideration in the second reading and today it will be submitted to the specialized commission for a final approval, the city's finance chief Veronica Herta informed. Both income and spending included in the Budget have been increased from the first reading, to 2.43 and 2.87 billion lei from 2.39 and 2.61 billion lei respectively. The resulting deficit of 437 million lei is supposed to be covered from sales of public property and external sources estimated at 219 million lei, as well as from new local taxes. “Like in the previous years, we have a socially-oriented budget. For education alone allocations constitute 1.1 billion lei, which is 40% of the total Budget. For social insurance and social assistance we have 233 million lei, or 8%”, said Herta. The 2012 draft Budget was approved in first reading on February 21. The Communist group in the City Council criticized the Budget for providing inadequate funds for education, health, social services, culture, social homes and transportation.