Parliament passes 2005 budget, but SLD sneaks in higher taxes

The budget envisages revenues of zł.174.7 and expenditure of zł.209.7 billion, which translates into a zł.35 billion budget deficit. During the Sejm vote, the Democratic Left Alliance (SLD) managed to increase revenues from taxation. An additional zł.120 million from excise tax was secured for equipment investment for the police. The Sejm also increased VAT income by zł.600 million, with the money designated to repay the national debt. Economists praise the fact that the deficit was lowered as it was earlier planned to reach zł.38.8 billion. "The new budget is realistic, we could not have achieved more. Now we must ensure it is fulfilled," said Finance Minister Mirosław Gronicki. (Parkiet, p. 9; Puls Biznesu, pp. 12-13) D.W.