Gazan Ministry of finance announced US$769m 2012 budget

Undersecretary for the ministry of finance in the Palestinian government in Gaza, Ismail Mahfouz, announced the completion of the preparation of the general budget draft for the year 2012, which reached US$ 769 million. Mahfouz said in a press statement sent to Arabstoday, “We handed the project to the Ministry last November to be discussed in preparation of its submission to Palestinian Legislative authority for its final approval.” He explained that the total budget reached US$ 769m, in contrast toUS$ 630 million for the previous year from which US$405 million dollars were allocated for salaries, while US$ 278 million were set for salaries in 2011. He stated that the increase is due to provisions of disbursement of previous years, and the implementation of many promotions and bonuses, while the expenditures without the salaries, including capital and developmental expenses were US$ 364 million dollars. He added “It is expected of the total revenue to reach US$174 million of only local revenue with the continuity of the occupation to transfer revenue clearance to Ramallah’s government.” He pointed out that “An amount of US$116 million is specified for the projects of the development plan, granted that the execution of these projects depends on special funds. While US$14 million are allocated for social aid, in order to provide compensation to those affected by continuous Israeli attacks,” in addition to this allocation US$14 million for the Social Welfare Fund in the Ministry of Labour, with the aim to continue the temporary employment programs for the unemployed. Mahfouz said “It is clear through the drafting of the budget that the most prominent sectors are the security of public order and the sector of social services, which includes health and education, forming a total of 62% of the budget.” He noted that “The budget of the Ministry of Interior reached US$244 million, 34% of the total budget, where the budget of the Ministry of Health is US$ 125 million, 17% of total budget, and the budget of the Ministry of Education reached US$80 million, which comes to 11% of the total budget.”