REUTERS
Parliament is set to consider the changes today, October 18, according to the Finance ministry's press service.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has approved and submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, a set of amendments to the national budget for 2019.
Parliament plans to consider the changes today, October 18, according to the Finance ministry's press service.
It is noted that a UAH 20.4 billion (US$824.9 million) reduction in the national budget revenue stipulated due to decline in planned VAT revenue on imports and import duties due to the strengthening of the hryvnia against the U.S. dollar and the euro is balanced by a UAH 21.6 billion (US$873.4 million) reduction in the public debt servicing.
The document also provides for additional financing of coalmines at UAH 1 billion (US$40.4 million), national security and defense at UAH 1.4 billion (US$56.6 million), as well as a contingency fund for emergency response at UAH 500 million (US$20.2 million).
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In addition, financing of social protection for victims of the Chornobyl disaster is increased by UAH 354.6 million (US$14.3 million), while rehabilitation of persons with disabilities – by UAH 787 million (US$31.8 million).
Moreover, government support for the construction of affordable housing grew by UAH 300 million (US$12.1 million), while long-term preferential state loans for internally displaced persons and participants in the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) or the Joint Forces Operation (JFO) in Donbas to purchase housing rose by UAH 200 million (US$8 million).
At the same time, due to the low utilization of funds for agricultural support programs, their financing will be cut by UAH 750.6 million (US$30.4 million).
Due to delays in the founding of the Ukrainian President's Foundation to support educational and scientific programs for youths, the funding was reduced by UAH 800 million (US$32.3 million) to UAH 200 million (US$8 million).
At the same time, financing of the single aviation safety and security system was raised by UAH 2.2 billion (US$89 million) due to an increase in the cost of the investment project for the purchase of helicopters under an agreement with the French government and a contract with Airbus Helicopters SAS.
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As UNIAN reported earlier, the national budget in January-September 2019 received UAH 739.680 billion (US$29.9 billion) in revenue, which was 4.8% down from the target figure, but 9.6% up y-o-y, according to the State Treasury Service of Ukraine.
Ukraine's national budget for 2019 foresees UAH 1.026 trillion, or US$41.5 billion, in revenue and UAH 1.112 trillion, or US$45 billion, in spending. The deficit is capped at UAH 89.989 billion, or US$3.6 billion.