Spending for education sector of Chisinau exceeds 1bn lei

The largest part of the Chisinau budget for 2013, which was passed in the first reading on February 14, will cover the costs in education. The municipal authorities calculated expenses of over 1.2 billion lei in this sector, Info-Prim Neo reports. Finance Division head Veronica Herta said most of the allocations in education will go to increase the food norm for children to 7.5 lei, by 1 leu more than last year. In boarding schools, the food norm will rise by about 18 lei, up from 26 lei. The allocations for heat for these institutions will also increase. A sum of 110 million lei will be used to maintain the roads, while about 200 million lei – for repairing the roads extensively. According to Veronica Hertsa, in the second reading they will propose increasing the revenues by about 150 million lei, but the concrete figure will be determined after the Municipal Council approves the local taxes. Mayor Dorin Chirtoaca said the municipal budget should be approved in the second reading in the next meeting of the Municipal Council, which will take place at the end of February or the start of March. The 2013 draft budget provides for revenues of 2.643 billion lei, up 8.6% compared with 2012, and for an expenditure of 2.664 billion lei, down 7.6% on 2012. The deficit is 20.7 million lei.