October 18, 2016, 00:55 / Economics

Budget expenditures for three quarters decreased in almost all areas

For servicing the national debt - increased by more than a quarter Olga Kuvshinova Budget expenditures for the three quarters of 2016 decreased in almost all areas; servicing the national debt increased by more than a quarter, the Ministry of Finance reported / M. Stulov / Vedomosti

In January–September, the federal budget spent 66.6% of the annual plan, or 10.87 trillion rubles, the Ministry of Finance reported a preliminary estimate. It is given without taking into account the autumn amendments to the budget, which increased total expenses from 16.3 trillion to 16.4 trillion rubles. A year earlier, during the same period, the budget spent approximately the same amount - 10.79 trillion rubles, i.e. actual nominal budget expenditures for the nine months of 2016 increased by only 0.7%, although expenditures planned for the year increased by almost 1 trillion rub. more. The budget is spending more slowly than last year, but the deficit is growing: in January–September it amounted to 1.6 trillion rubles. versus 0.6 trillion a year earlier. The reason is a reduction in income: over nine months they collected 0.9 trillion rubles. less than a year earlier (9.29 trillion rubles versus 10.1 trillion).

Compared to last year, expenditure execution (funds actually spent) decreased in almost all major items (see table).

The budget spent about 2 trillion rubles on defense, which is 14% less than a year earlier, and 64% of the previous plan (last year, 74% was spent during the same period). Taking into account the amendments to the 2016 budget, which increased spending on national defense from 3.1 trillion to 3.9 trillion rubles, in the remaining three months of the year the budget should spend almost the same amount on defense as in the past three quarters.

The execution of expenditures on national security is less in nominal terms than last year by 5%, on the national economy - by 4%, on education - by 5%. The biggest squeeze is on funding for housing and communal services (spent 35% less than last year), sports (42% less), media (26%): expenses in these areas are financed by 40–60% versus 50–70% a year earlier . However, amendments to the 2016 budget, which reduced funding for these items, increase the percentage of expenditures on them exactly to the level of last year. For example, with a reduction in the annual spending plan for housing and communal services from 82.9 billion to 56.8 billion rubles. 44.7 billion rubles already spent. turn from 54% fulfilled to 79% fulfilled.

The budget spent 3.5 trillion rubles on social policy. versus 3.1 trillion a year earlier. Taking into account the amendments made, which increased expenses under this item, almost exactly three-quarters of the annual assignments were spent in three quarters.

More than in January-September last year was also spent on national issues, which was due to the holding of parliamentary elections (under the item “Elections and referendums” the budget spent 13.5 billion rubles out of the planned 17 billion). 6% more was spent on healthcare than a year earlier, including due to the acceleration of planned expenditures: 64% of annual expenditures were completed versus 62% the year before; however, the reduction in annual expenses provided for by the amendments increases this percentage of implementation to 76%.

Transfers to the regions over three quarters decreased by 1.5%, but due to a slowdown in funding: federal support amounted to 480.7 billion rubles. (71% of the annual plan) versus 488 billion (78%) for the same period last year. 28% more was spent on servicing the national debt: over three quarters - almost 0.5 trillion rubles. against 390 billion rubles. For the whole year, 640 billion rubles have been allocated for servicing the national debt, taking into account amendments. against 519 billion rubles spent last year.

Expenditures may be squeezed due to the tightening of their administration; this is a phenomenon of this year, notes Andrei Chernyavsky from the HSE Development Center: The Ministry of Finance and the Treasury have tightened the procedure for issuing funds so that money does not lie idle.

Budget expenditures for January–September averaged just over 1 trillion rubles. per month, in the next three months to fulfill the budget plan they must amount to an average of 1.8 trillion rubles. monthly. And the deficit, taking into account the amendments, will double to 3 trillion rubles. This is quite realistic, says Ilya Sokolov from the Center for Social Development: traditionally, at the end of the year, primarily in December, there is an increase in spending associated with the closure of construction contracts, purchases, and the transfer of subsidies to the regions. Although there are some reserves for savings and usually expenses are fulfilled by 97–98%, he notes. In 2015, the fourth quarter accounted for 30% of annual expenses, the deficit increased from 0.6 trillion to 2 trillion rubles.