The 2017 budget bill has been passed into law with a surplus worth Br1.496 billion ($787.203 million). The government posted the document on its official web site for legislative information on October 26.
2017 budget revenues were approved at Br18.235 billion ($9.595 billion), expenditures – Br16.739 billion ($8.808 billion).
The major source of state budget revenues in 2017 will be VAT proceeds (Br6.507 billion – $3.424 billion), excises (Br2.269 billion – $1.194 billion), export customs duties (Br2.161 billion – $1.137 billion), profit tax (Br917.926 million – $483.017 million), dividends on shares and other forms of ownership (Br825.275 million – $434.264 million).
Expenditures on “countrywide activities” are set at Br7.334 trillion ($3.859 billion), economic development – Br2.73 billion ($1.437 billion), welfare – Br1.825 billion ($960.324 million), judicial authorities and law enforcement activities – Br1.774 billion ($933.488 million), national defense Br924.454 million ($486.452 million), healthcare – Br878.781 million ($462.419 million), physical culture, education – Br808.064 million ($425.207 million), sport, culture and mass media – Br376.155 million ($197.935 million), environment protection – Br75.228 million ($39.585 million), housing and utilities, construction – Br13.351 million ($7.025 million).
Belarus’ motorway fund worth Br528.964 million ($278.344 million) will be made up of road toll fees payable by foreign truckers, proceeds from the tax payable by vehicle owners for access to public roads – Br606.038 million ($318.9 million).
The 2017 state budget will provide for financial support worth Br5.562 billion ($2.927 billion) to 36 state programs. (Prime-TASS/Business World Magazine)