ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's Economy Committee on Tuesday adopted a report on the execution of the state budget in this year's first half. Assistant Finance Minister Niko Raic said that "on the whole, one can be
satisfied with the report." From January to late June, current budgetary revenues amounted to 20.2 billion kuna (USD2.52 billion), which is 40.6% more than planned and 5.4% less than in the same period last year. Tax revenues were as planned but there were no privatisation revenues, Raic said. Expenses were according to plan as well, except for expenses for the salaries of government employees and child allowances, which were higher than planned, he said. Ivan Penic of the Croatian Democratic Union believes it is worrisome that current revenues are 10% lower than planned. It is also worrying that deficits in pension and health insurance funds are rising and t
ZAGREB, Sept 18 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's Economy
Committee on Tuesday adopted a report on the execution of the state
budget in this year's first half. Assistant Finance Minister Niko
Raic said that "on the whole, one can be satisfied with the
report."
From January to late June, current budgetary revenues amounted to
20.2 billion kuna (USD2.52 billion), which is 40.6% more than
planned and 5.4% less than in the same period last year.
Tax revenues were as planned but there were no privatisation
revenues, Raic said.
Expenses were according to plan as well, except for expenses for the
salaries of government employees and child allowances, which were
higher than planned, he said.
Ivan Penic of the Croatian Democratic Union believes it is
worrisome that current revenues are 10% lower than planned. It is
also worrying that deficits in pension and health insurance funds
are rising and that they are being covered with loans, he said.
His party colleague Zlatko Matesa warned of what he described as a
hasty decision of the government to forbid the state to seek loans
from the central bank. The state now has to seek loans from
commercial banks, which have higher interest rates, so tax-payers'
money is redirected to private banks, he explained.
The committee adopted with a majority of votes a bill on changes to
the Law on the Execution of the State Budget in 2001, which
envisages progressive taxation of privileged pensions at the rates
of 8-20%, and cancels the three-year maternity leave.
(hina) rml