
The Moldovan government approved amendments to the Law on the State Budget for 2021, reducing its deficit by 2.45 billion lei (-16.8%) - to 12.14 billion lei.
In particular, the amendments proposed by the Ministry of Finance to the Law on the State Budget for 2021 envisage an increase in the revenues of the state budget of Moldova in 2021 by 3 billion 679.2 million lei (+ 8.9%) - from 41 billion 415.4 million to 45 billion 094.6 million lei, an increase in the expenditure side by 1 billion 224.5 million lei (+ 2.2%) - from 56 billion 008 million 134.7 thousand to 57 billion 232.6 million lei, as well as reducing the state budget deficit by 2 billion 454.7 million lei (-16.8%) - from 14 billion 592.7 million to 12 billion 138 million lei. As Finance Minister Dumitru Budianschi noted, amendments to the Law on the State Budget for 2021 were proposed in connection with the need to adjust budgetary indicators of revenues, expenditures and deficits, taking into account the new forecast of macroeconomic indicators for this year, updated and presented by the Ministry of Economy in August, as well as with taking into account the execution of the state budget for 8 months 2021. Other important factors for the amendments were: revision of the expenditure programs, taking into account the progress of the current implementation and the possibility of absorbing budget allocations by the end of the year; release of funding to support the budget by donors; changing the structure of sources of financing the budget deficit; the entry into force from October 1 of the new policies of assistance and social protection; providing funds to manage the pandemic by the end of the year. The increase in revenues to the state budget will be due to the acceleration of economic growth, an increase in exports, as well as an increase in the average monthly wage in the economy. Thus, it is expected to increase their own income, mainly due to taxes and fees. In particular, according to estimates and amendments made, the state budget revenues for 2021 from taxes and duties will grow by 3 billion 184.5 million lei - up to 41 billion 378.2 million lei, from grants - by 299.6 million lei - up to 1 billion 410.4 million lei, other income - by 186.9 million lei - up to 2 billion 286 million lei. At the same time, it is expected that this additional increase in revenues to the treasury will provide an increase in VAT revenues by 2 billion 120 million lei, income tax - by 390.2 million lei, excise taxes - by 145.8 million lei, grants - by 378.6 million lei, duties on foreign economic activity and foreign operations - by 197 million lei, state duties - by 40 million lei, etc. The largest increase in expenditures will affect the Program in the road sector - 604.6 million lei, the National Fund for the Development of Agriculture and Rural Areas - 435 million lei, rehabilitation of local roads - 204.1 million lei, replenishment of urgent government funds - 495.2 million lei, the sector health care - 141.6 million lei. Staff costs will increase by 414.9 million lei, of which 170 million lei are intended to cover these costs in order to avoid possible risks of non-payment of wages and increase the amount of contributions to the authorities' budgets. Additional funds will also be allocated to create adequate conditions at the Academy of the Ministry of Internal Affairs named after Stefan cel Mare - 47.6 million lei, financial support will be provided to institutions involved in the fight against Covid-19 - 14.1 million lei. 5 million lei are allocated for the reconstruction and modernization of the buildings of the Center of Excellence in Construction, and 2 million lei for the modernization of the infrastructure of the Sculeni customs post. // 30.09.2021 — InfoMarket