OREANDA-NEWS. September 12, 2012. Belarus’ Finance Ministry posted a republican budget surplus of 456.2 billion Belarusian rubles (Br) (USD 54.2 million at the NBB rate) in January-July 2012, or 0.2% of GDP, an official with the Finance Ministry told.

The republican budget indicates spending and revenues of the central administration, whereas the consolidated budget also includes local budgets.

Republican budget revenues amounted to 51 trillion rubles (USD 6.1 billion) in January-July 2012, or 53.8% of the target for the whole year.

Revenues from the value-added tax amounted to 17.8 trillion rubles (almost USD 2.1 billion, 53.2% of the year target), from income tax – Br3.3 trillion (USD 392 million, 68.8%), from foreign economic activities 13.9 trillion rubles (USD 1.7bn), 54.9% of the target.

Republican budget expenditures reached 50.6 trillion rubles (around USD 6 billion), 53.3% of the target for 2012.

Expenditures on welfare, science, culture, healthcare, mass media, sports, education, etc. amounted to 10.8 trillion rubles (USD 1.3bn), 57.4% of the target for 2012, national economy expenditures were at almost 9.6 billion rubles (around USD 1 billion), 54.7% of the target, and general state expenditures at 23.5 trillion rubles (USD 2.8 billion), 51.3% of the target.

According to the new edition of the budget plan adjusted by the Finance Ministry, the 2012 republican budget revenues are projected at 94.844 trillion rubles (USD 11.3 billion), and expenditures at 94.752 trillion rubles. Hence, in 2012 Belarus is expected to have a deficit budget on Br91.9 billion (USD 10.9 million).