Zagreb - The Croatian Parliament on Monday adopted the 2019 state budget and projections for 2020 and 2021, with revenues in 2019 totalling over HRK 136 billion and expenditures over HRK 140 billion. The budget was adopted with 79 votes in favour, 45 against and one abstention.
Budgetary revenues are based on the economic growth and the third round of tax reliefs, while the expenditure side of the budget is focused on the strengthening of fiscal sustainability, development measures and appropriate care for everybody in society.
VAT revenues are expected to reach HRK 51.8 billion and 15.7 billion is to be collected from taxes and excise taxes. Expenditures are planned at HRK 140.3 billion, 6.9 billion more than in this year's budget.
The parliament adopted two amendments submitted by the government which do not change the overall amount of the budget with the current amounts being redistributed.
The first government-sponsored amendment refers to the development of assisted areas, namely parts of Croatian territory that are underdeveloped in comparison to the Croatian average and therefore need additional development support.
The second government-sponsored amendment proposes a redistribution of HRK 4.1 million to the Education Ministry for the purpose of securing funds for the Hrvatsko Zagorje-Krapina Polytechnic.