OREANDA-NEWS. On 02 September 2008 Belarus’ Finance Ministry posted a republican budget surplus of 2.784 trillion Belarusian rubles (Br), or 4.2% of the gross domestic product (GDP) in January-July, an official with the Finance Ministry told.

The republican budget indicates spending and revenues of the central administration, whereas the consolidated budget also includes local budgets.

Republican budget revenues amounted to 26.896 trillion rubles in January-July, or 69.2% of the target for the first seven months.

Profit tax revenues reached 1.783 trillion rubles, or 72.3% of the target for January-December, VAT revenues were at 4.495 trillion rubles, 60% of the target, and excise tax revenues at 2.014 trillion rubles, 64.9% of the target. Foreign economic activity revenues amounted to 5.6 trillion rubles, 80.5% of the target.

Republican budget expenditures reached 24.112 trillion rubles, 57.5% of the target for 2008.

Expenditures on welfare, science, culture, healthcare, mass media, sports, education, etc. amounted to 9.544 billion rubles, 57.1% of the target for January-December, national economy expenditures were at 7.132 trillion rubles, 61.1% of the target, and general state expenditures at 5.382 trillion rubles, 54.9% of the target.

Expenditures of the republican agriculture support fund were 150 billion rubles above the revenues of the fund in the period.

Underfinancing from the budget reached 56.5 billion rubles as of August 1, 2008, up from 56.2 billion rubles on July 1. Budget arrears totaled 102.6 billion rubles, down 31.4% from January 1.

Republican budget revenues are expected at 38.152 trillion rubles, and expenditures are to reach 40.255 trillion rubles in 2008. Budget deficit is projected at 2.102 trillion rubles.