European Commission Vice President and Commissioner for Social Dialogue Valdis Dombrovskis (New Unity) told LETA that the budget project's deficit is even slightly lower than the budget plan submitted in October by the then Maris Kucinskis (Greens/Farmers) government.
At the same time, additional financing has been earmarked to increase the salaries of medics, as well as judicial and interior system workers, he added.
He explained that the possibility to increase spending is being ensured by rapid economic growth, as well as additional tax revenue.
As reported, the Cabinet of Ministers on Tuesday approved draft law on Latvia’s budget for 2019 and decided to sent it to Saeima for adoption.
In 2019, revenue in the government consolidated budget are planned at €9.2 billion and expenditure at €9.4 billion. In the government basic budget, revenue is planned at €6.4 billion and expenditure at €6.8 billion. In the government special budget, revenue is planned at €3 billion and expenditure at €2.8 billion.
In 2019, the general government consolidated budget is expected to run a deficit of 0.5% of GDP. Latvia’s GDP, meanwhile, is projected to grow 3% this year.