Government accepts latest version of the 2005 draft budget

According to the Finance Minister the discussion on the budget was, "Calm, without raised emotions." The budget revenues are to total zł.173.74 billion while expenditures will amount to zł.208.74 billion, which means that the budget deficit will be zł.35 billion. In comparison with earlier versions of the budget, both expenditures and revenues are higher by around zł.1 billion. Higher revenues are mostly a result of the closure of the so-called special funds, namely the supplementary bank accounts of certain public institutions. Expenditures were only slightly modified - an additional zł.130 million will be spent to support science, the Culture Ministry will receive zł.65 million more for various programs and zł.50 million is designated for preparations for the Olympics. Moreover, almost zł.260 million will be allocated to the national scholarship programs. Basic macroeconomic indicators remain the same as in earlier budget projections, but the latest version envisages real economic growth of 5% and average yoy inflation of 3%. (Parkiet, p. 8; Rzeczpospolita, p. B2; Puls Biznesu, p. 6) E.B.