Ukraine's parliament adopts state budget for 2019

23.11.2018 10:01

Ukrinform

The Verkhovna Rada has adopted the bill on Ukraine's state budget for 2019.

A total of 239 lawmakers voted for the approval of the law at second reading and 240 parliamentarians supported the document as a whole early on Friday, with the required minimum being 226 votes, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"The decision has been taken. Ukraine's state budget for 2019 has been adopted," Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy said, after announcing the results of the vote.

The document stipulates that GDP growth will amount to 3% in 2019, with inflation projected at 7.4%. The minimum wage will increase to UAH 4,172 from January 1, 2019, and the living wage will grow to UAH 1,936 from July 1, 2019 and to UAH 2,027 from December 1, 2019.

In the draft state budget finalized for second reading, state budget revenues for 2019 were projected at UAH 1.026 trillion, including revenues of the general fund at UAH 928.508 billion and revenues of the special fund at UAH 97.624 billion. Expenditures are envisaged in the amount of UAH 1.112 trillion, including expenditures of the general fund at UAH 1.006 trillion and expenditures of the special fund at UAH 106.362 billion. The deficit of the state budget is set at UAH 89.989 billion, including the deficit of the general fund being UAH 69.617 billion and the deficit of the special fund being UAH 20.372 billion.

Expenditures for improving the defense and security of the state in 2019 are projected at UAH 211.9 billion (including UAH 5 billion in state guarantees). The government also foresees UAH 167.5 billion to ensure the payment of pensions next year. Funding will also be increased in 2019 to continue health care reform. UAH 55 billion is also envisaged in the budget for the construction of new roads. Expenditures on education are expected to reach UAH 126.9 billion.

In general, the resource of local budgets for 2019 is UAH 588.936 billion, including UAH 542.021 billion laid down in the general fund and UAH 46.915 billion in the special fund. The volume of local budget revenues is estimated at UAH 291.118 billion, including UAH 265.656 billion in the general fund and UAH 25.463 billion in the special fund.

The bill on Ukraine's state budget for 2019 was approved at first reading on October 18.