Mechanically

The adoption of the crisis budget of the Pskov region was disconcertingly calm and predictable

The final session of the Pskov Regional Assembly of the past 2014 was quite boring and unnoticeable - despite the fact that the regional budget was adopted at the end of the outgoing year. The same long-suffering, sensational one, which even the executive branch called difficult and difficult. It will account for the main wave of optimizations, branching and other reforms, many of which Governor Andrei Turchak presciently called “unpopular.”

United Russia member Alexey Sevastyanov promises not to abandon Crimea without electricity.

“A year will pass, and we will sit here, we will not die”

Objectively speaking, there were several reasons for such smoothness, a certain despondency and calmness in the adoption of the budget. Firstly, the main debate, which became really heated and acute, took place in October, when the regional administration laid its cards on the table on cuts and reforms. That is, the real war for the budget (despite the fact that the main financial document of the region was released only at the end of November) lasted for 2.5 months. By the end of the marathon, the tension dropped simply because it was already difficult to say something new. Secondly, the collapse of the national currency on a national scale, which occurred in mid-December, distracted many from problems at the regional level.

Thirdly, the adoption of the regional budget has not been the first year since it has turned into a very predictable process, into a kind of “Irony of Fate” for a typical middle-aged Russian: for example, this one will now be indignant at the state debt, this one will say that the executive branch needs to be supported, the third will be offended, that they didn’t support mothers with many children, but this one, from the edge, will raise his hand, groan and call everyone populists. This “Irony of Fate” effect was first discovered by the head of the Pskov LDPR members Sergei Makarchenko , and he is constantly pedaled at almost every session.

In general, both the opposition and the pro-government bloc clearly had no particular incentive to tear out each other’s Adam’s apple and fight until they lost their pulse. I repeat – everything was clear to everyone. The adoption of the Pskov budget can be approached with Pechorin-like fatalism.

Nevertheless, in general, the budget process that preceded the key session took place. At least if we talk about it formally. The conciliation commission worked and even approved as many as 28 amendments. True, almost all are representatives of United Russia. In general, the formation of this commission is always presented with great fanfare, but, in fact, it is only a quasi-structure: according to the rules, it includes five representatives of the executive branch, which, together with one United Russia member with 10 members, in any case, gives the necessary majority.

Discussed further? Discussed. Did you accept? Accepted. Some could even see in this acceptance elements of political and party work. After all, to some, the decision to allocate additional funds for events for people with disabilities, taken at the request of United Russia member Yuri Sorokin , will seem like an important step by the regional administration; and someone will say that the “script” got into the network ahead of time, and such generosity was known even before the adoption of the budget in the first reading. Which, in general, did not prevent it from being included in the financial document immediately, without breaking the comedy.

Once again, the oppositionists rooted for their heroes: they cited numbers and other arguments, trying to convince the “pro-government bloc” that the presented budget for the region was unacceptable. Once again, the “statists” rejoiced at the steadfastness of the party in power, which called for taking the right course, not rocking the boat and in every possible way supporting the executive power, which is plowing until it loses its pulse, pulling the region out of the crisis.

Well, once again, among the standard heroes, especially colorful ones, real ultra-optimists, were sought out. The main one among them was traditionally Alexey Sevastyanov , who predictably did not hear anything new in the opposition’s speeches. “When a country is surrounded by economic sanctions, the world economy is in the red zone, why should there be economic growth? – the United Russia member was perplexed, saying that the main thing is that things don’t get worse in 2015. “We will not turn our backs on the southeast of Ukraine, we will not abandon Crimea without light, our Crimea!”

Sevastyanov never explained who he meant by this meaningful “we.” Pskov region? Then, I wonder, what specific contingent of Pskov residents will not turn away from the southeast of Ukraine? Alas, Alexey Sevastyanov did not lift the veil of secrecy.

But the “prima” of the Pskov parliament remembered his words about the bankruptcy of the Pskov region, once again pointing out to the parliamentary opposition the unfulfilled panic forecasts. “I respect the analysis of Lev Shlosberg ( the leader of the Pskov YABLOKO previously presented his detailed commentary on budget expenditures - D.K. ), who said that if his amendments are not heard, the region will collapse. I would like to remind you that the situation is repeating itself: last year we also did not take into account Lev Markovich’s amendments. A year ago, he presented the same diagram and signs and uttered the same words. I then asked everyone to remember that a year would pass, and we would sit here, we would not die,” Sevastyanov rejoiced.

A dubious achievement, but you can’t argue: they sat. Alive. Well, if they are alive, then this is not a collapse.

“In science it’s called cognitive dissonance.”

It is worth recalling the figures that will not let Pskov residents die: for 2015, regional budget revenues will amount to 21.6 billion rubles, and expenses – 23.6 billion rubles. Last year, budget revenues in 2014 amounted to 21.3 billion, and expenses – 26.8 billion rubles. Where the region suffered losses (not counting the fact that inflation over the past year was twice as high as normal) is visible to the naked eye.

The leader of the Pskov YABLOKO, Lev Shlosberg, called the adopted document a budget for the deterioration of life.

For the discussion of the budget (which, we repeat, was absolutely pointless, like the work of Sisyphus), everyone tried to prepare their own intellectual joke. Communist Viktor Dulya , for example, also decided to think about beauty and remembered the female figure. “The governor in his budget address called for belts to be tightened. Who here is sure that in the future we will have to “stretch” this belt? I believe in delaying it even more. And soon all women will envy our waist,” Dulya assured.

The subtlest joke for the deputies was prepared by a conditional member of the “A Just Russia” faction (or rather, as they joke on the sidelines, a representative of the “ Viktor Antonov ” faction) Liliya Nikiforova . “Over the past five years there has been a significant increase in the level of healthcare in the region. Previously, the industry had a budget of 2.5 billion, but now it is 5.7 billion rubles. I am not a supporter of any authorities, but as much as has been done during this time has not been done in the last 25 years! It seems to me - intentionally or unintentionally - the colors in relation to the social sphere are becoming thicker. But as a person who deeply knows the social sphere and the healthcare industry, I can confidently say that if our industry develops on the same scale, but more rationally, it will be a progression and affirmation of the social sphere,” the “non-supporter” said passionately "Lilia Anatolyevna.

However, despite all the predictability of the plot, the last episode of the “season” was still not a comedy - it was a true, as they say now, dramedy. The main dramatic roles of this day went to Yabloko activist Lev Shlosberg and communist Alexei Fedorov .

The Democrat, as mentioned earlier, presented his detailed commentary on budget expenditures , talking about the underfunding of key state regional programs. “The authorities must directly and honestly tell the residents of the Pskov region that this is a budget for the deterioration of life. It is a very dangerous situation when people hear one thing on TV from the president, that all state guarantees will be fulfilled and social obligations will not be reduced, while people see for themselves the deterioration of the situation. In science this is called cognitive dissonance, and it is fraught with serious public outrage,” stated Schlosberg.

The head of YABLOKO couldn’t help but remember his “favorite” – the Nevelsk pig farm. “It is impossible to give 148 million rubles to an enterprise that does not even set social prices in stores,” he said and told deputies that the other day a manure lagoon ruptured at the enterprise, and about 20 tons of ammonia effluent ended up outside its boundaries, including to the nearest river. “It’s not just the environment that’s being harmed—almost all the surrounding roads have been destroyed by the pig farm. This will continue until the regional administration puts forward special conditions for the operation of this enterprise,” added Lev Shlosberg.

Communist Fedorov had a shorter but almost equally dramatic speech about the state of the region heading into 2015. “From the point of view of dynamics, this is a budget for the bankruptcy of the authorities,” Alexey Fedorov commented on the adopted document. – This indicates the degradation of the economy. There is no need to transfer all problems to external factors! What kind of innovation, what kind of import substitution are we talking about?! Of the 18 programs, only two remain with increased funding; the remaining programs have been cut. Such a drop in government spending on health care did not occur either in 2008 or in 1998 during the default. Today, the industry has essentially been sentenced, and it is unconstitutionally turning into paid medical care.”

Once again, no one commented on the reductions in state programs to the communist. Do not want. Let us repeat, an interesting trend has emerged in the Pskov Regional Assembly, the “rule of inverse proportion”: the more complex the budget, the less controversy flares up over its adoption. It’s funny that one part of the deputies sincerely considers this a tragedy, while the other, no less sincerely, considers this a major achievement. Still others laugh at both. And the fourth people, invisible from the hall of the House of Soviets, live on this budget.