2011 budget issues

The 2011 budget has already been submitted to parliament and is being prepared for discussion of the first reading. According to some preliminary data the expenditures may be approximately GEL 7 billion, which up to 5.5% economic growth is envisaged. The priorities of the budget are healthcare, social issues and education. The proposed budget continues the belt tightening, with administrative costs also being reduced. There will be some continuation of infrastructural projects. Analysts believe that the Georgian government is trying to gradually bring the level of the state budget to that of 2008, which was the biggest to date at GEL 7.177 billion. The analysts challenge the budget claiming it is less transparent. International budget partnership research also points out this shortcoming of the Georgian budget for 2011.