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President Gasparovic Signs 2010 State Budget Act
Friday 20 November 2009 Zoom in | Print page
Bratislava, November 20 (TASR) - Slovak President Ivan Gasparovic on Friday signed the 2010 State Budget Act, which was passed by the Slovak Parliament earlier in November.
The state budget for 2010 is aimed at cutting the public-finance deficit from this year's 6.3 percent to 5.5 percent of GDP next year and estimates a deficit of €3.75 billion, with state revenues on €12.35 billion and expenditures on €16.28 billion.
Compared to 2009, the expenditures of three ministries are set to be higher in 2010. Excluding money coming from the EU and via its co-financing, the Health Ministry has been allocated €90.6 million more in 2010 than this year. The expenditures of the Labour, Social Affairs and the Family Ministry are planned to increase by €67.69 million, while the Education Ministry will be able to spend an extra €9.37 million.
Conversely, austerity measures will be applied most severely at the Transport, Posts and Telecommunications Ministry, with its budget in 2010 falling by more than €303 million compared to 2009. The Interior Ministry's budget will be €222.77 million lower in 2010.
Minor changes proposed by coalition MPs have been made in budgets for the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV), which is due to receive an extra €10 million. In addition, cultural organisation Matica Slovenska will be able to spend €700,000 more than originally planned, while the Industrial Property Office (UPV) will receive an extra €295,000.
In turn, Parliament rejected all amending proposals submitted by opposition MPs. These were designed to increase funds destined for local administrations in order to make up for drops in their incomes as a result of the crisis and Government initiatives. The Opposition's proposals for more money for social affairs, healthcare and housing-insulation projects were also rejected.
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