Targeted budgetary revenues for 2012 will be revised upwards from current GEL 6.839 billion to GEL 7.05 billion and expenditures - from current GEL 6.554 billion to GEL 6.713 billion, according to the draft amendments to this year’s state budget, which the government submitted to the parliament for consideration this week.

According to the draft, increase in revenues was made possible as a result of additional foreign grants in an amount of GEL 90.3 million, plus GEL 120 million of additional revenues from other sources, mainly from fees of licenses for use of natural resources.
 
According to the government, additional funds will mainly be spent on the implementation of infrastructure projects. The funding for regional infrastructure projects will increase significantly – from current GEL 197 million to GEL 362 million.
 
Budgetary amendments will apply to 11 ministries and among them Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Economy will see most of the increase in funding.    

• Ministry of Healthcare and Social Protection – GEL 1.771 billion (instead of current GEL 1.772 billion);
• Defense Ministry - GEL 676.5 million (instead of current GEL 675 million; 2011 – GEL 711 million; 2010 – GEL 728 million);
• Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure – GEL 984 million (instead of current GEL 960.3 mln);
• Ministry of Agriculture - GEL 142.9 million (currently GEL 119.9 million);
• Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development – GEL 160.6 million (currently GEL 139.2 million);
• Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs - GEL 59.2 million (currently GEL 50 million);
• Ministry of Culture and Protection of Monuments – GEL 92.7 million (currently GEL 81.5 million);
• Finance Ministry – GEL 117.9 million (currently GEL 111.7 mln);
• Ministry in charge of prison system – GEL 125.1 million (currently GEL 120 mln);
• Ministry of Education and Science – GEL 599.8 million (currently GEL 595 mln);
• Ministry of Environment Protection - GEL 19.8 million (currently GEL 17.5 mln).

The funding of the Central Election Commission (CEC) will be increase from current GEL 41.6 million to GEL 46.3 million, according to the draft. This additional GEL 4.7 million will be allocated by the CEC to a state commission in charge of verifying voters’ list.

These budgetary figures may be further revised before the amendments are approved by the Parliament.