ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday evening adopted a state budget for 2001 in the amount of 49.67 billion kuna ($5.6 billion). Eighty-six MPs voted in favour, 16 against, and four abstained.
Throughout last night and today, the lower house debated 488 amendments to a draft 2001 budget, turning down almost all of them. The government in its own nine amendments, however, had incorporated about one third of those moved by MPs. Funds for child's benefits, additional maternity leave and equipment for new-borns have been increased by 111 kuna ($12.9m), and next year will stay at this year's total, 2.2 billion kuna ($256m). Although the biggest saving has been done in investment maintenance and road maintenance, funds were increased for the building of some roads, for instance to the southern Adriatic city of Split. Grants have been increased for municipalities and tow
ZAGREB, Dec 13 (Hina) - Parliament's House of Representatives on
Wednesday evening adopted a state budget for 2001 in the amount of
49.67 billion kuna ($5.6 billion). Eighty-six MPs voted in favour,
16 against, and four abstained.
Throughout last night and today, the lower house debated 488
amendments to a draft 2001 budget, turning down almost all of them.
The government in its own nine amendments, however, had
incorporated about one third of those moved by MPs.
Funds for child's benefits, additional maternity leave and
equipment for new-borns have been increased by 111 kuna ($12.9m),
and next year will stay at this year's total, 2.2 billion kuna
($256m).
Although the biggest saving has been done in investment maintenance
and road maintenance, funds were increased for the building of some
roads, for instance to the southern Adriatic city of Split.
Grants have been increased for municipalities and towns and are 28
percent higher than this year, which is the result of including
areas of special government concern in the Danube River Region into
direct budgetary grants.
The government considered remarks put forward by HDZ, the strongest
opposition party, specifying which counties, towns and
municipalities would receive grants and in what amount.
For 2001, the state has ensured 600 million kuna ($69.8m) for
allocation to units of local self-government to assist them
financially.
The lower house resumed the session by debating amendments to a bill
on the execution of next year's budget.
(hina) ha