Survival Budget

At the end of December, the Tambov City Duma adopted the budget for 2013 and for the planning period 2014-2015. The only positive thing that can be highlighted is the deficit-free nature of the treasury. However, upon closer examination of the city’s main financial document, we can conclude that this is not a budget for development, but for survival. Two deputies of the Communist Party of the Russian Federation group (A.R. Alexandrov and P.N. Savilov) did not support the budget for the following reasons.

Treasury revenues cut by 32.7%

First, let's look at the main parameters of the budget, that is, the revenue and expenditure parts. The projected amount of income will be 3,462,695.9 thousand rubles, including assistance from the regional budget in the amount of 610 million rubles. The income item compared to 2012 decreases by 32.7%. For comparison, last year revenues amounted to 5 billion 142 million rubles. There may be an increase, but for now we have what we have.

How is the budget formed? Largely due to our taxes. The amount of taxes is 2 billion 197 million rubles. (63.5%), and non-tax revenues - only 654 million rubles. (18.9%). At the same time, the non-tax part will be catastrophically reduced every year and by 2015 it could amount to only 320 million rubles. Consequently, taxes will continue to rise by leaps and bounds. Moreover, according to the calculations of city officials, the average per capita cash income of Tambov residents in 2012 amounted to as much as 28 thousand rubles, which means, from their point of view, taxes can continue to be raised.

The main reason for the decrease in non-tax revenues received in the form of rent for municipal property and land plots is the reduction in the number of objects in city ownership. That is why at every meeting of the Duma, deputies from the Communist Party of the Russian Federation strongly oppose the policy of total sale of municipal property, which brings stable income.

More recently, in 2009, non-tax revenues brought in almost 1 billion rubles. In a couple of years, this budget line may simply disappear. Even the Chamber of Control and Accounts (CAC) of the city notes that the transfer of space for rent ensures the long-term interests of the city rather than their sale. The destructiveness of total privatization is obvious.

Municipal enterprises generate minimal income (with huge debts). Thus, the municipal unitary enterprise Tambovinvestservice owed energy suppliers more than 500 million rubles last year! Although the company operates in the profitable sector - housing and communal services. Energy is on sale. This year it is planned to put municipal pharmacies under the knife.

Reduced spending on education, social policy, sports - increase in legal costs

Budget expenditures for 2013 are projected in the amount of 3 billion 433 million rubles, which is 2 billion 70 million rubles. or 37.6% less than in 2012. In 2014, a reduction of another 143 million rubles is planned.

As economists and representatives of the PCB note, the budget policy of the city of Tambov is not consistent with the directions of the federal and regional budgets in terms of a consistent increase in wages for public sector employees. And these include, among other things, teachers, kindergarten workers, etc.

Last year, more than 2 billion rubles were allocated for education needs, and this year 1 billion 556 million rubles are planned, but these funds are clearly not enough. Last fall, we, deputies, checked the readiness of schools for the heating season. During the inspection of only one of them, it turned out that the sewage system, roofing, window openings, and ceilings require extensive repair work. And how to do all this while cutting costs?

The policy of officials towards the reorganization of educational institutions does not lead to anything good. There are not enough school premises in Tambov, so some of them continue to work two shifts. At the same time, there has been a positive trend in increasing the number of students. In the future, we may face the same thing in schools that we face in kindergartens: a lack of places.

Expenditures on social policy are also reduced - by 51.7% (66 million 510 thousand rubles), on physical culture and sports - 43.3% (9 million 927 thousand rubles), on the national economy - 66.5% (1 billion 338 million rubles), for housing and communal services - 21.8% (152 million 428 thousand rubles). Programs to support large families and socially vulnerable categories of citizens are being phased out.

At the same time, expenses under the item “Execution of judicial acts” for compensation for damage caused as a result of illegal actions of local government bodies increase. In 2013, funds in the amount of 4 million 602 thousand rubles were allocated for this, and already in 2015 - 23 million 877 thousand rubles. For comparison, expenses on physical culture and sports in 2013 will amount to 12 million 976 thousand, and in 2015 - 7 million. And for the implementation of the "Youth - Affordable Housing" program in 2013 - as much as 4 million 956 thousand rubles.

The sharp increase in costs under the item “Execution of judicial acts” raises many questions. It seems that our officials are so honest that, assuming the possibility of violating the rights and interests of other persons, they legislate in advance to set aside money for this in geometric progression.

Debt payment is red

In 2012, Tambov's municipal debt approached the mark of 1 billion 300 million rubles. For 2013, a new limit has been set in the amount of 1 billion 500 million

Along with the debt, the costs of servicing it are also growing; this year they will amount to 131 million rubles, or almost 4% of all expenses. This does not seem like much, but “debt” expenses exceed the combined expenses for sports, media, culture, social policy, and environmental protection.

At the same time, the city and municipal enterprises regularly take out loans to patch holes in the budget. We are in a debt hole, a way out of which will be impossible if the current course towards total privatization continues, the real sector of the economy shrinks and the unbridled growth of taxes and tariffs for housing and communal services.