O.Shlapak : Government takes measures to save public money

At a briefing on March 5, Finance Minister Oleksander Shlapak informed about key Government decisions taken at a meeting of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers.

Firstly, it has been revised a list of non-funded government programs for the past year and stopped execution of 15 state programs.

Indeed, it has been carried out a detailed audit of 82 decisions of the previous government, which introduced projects that require significant financial resources. Oleksander Shlapak said that according to preliminary estimates the total cost of a resource that would stand out for the implementation of these projects makes up 48 billion UAH.

"We have decided to cancel all projects and decisions that have no real financial security", the Minister emphasized. However, he stressed that the need to provide a review of these projects at board and community councils meetings as well as to decide on their relevance, and provide offers that would adapt the implementation of projects according to the terms of the real economic situation.

The Minister of Finance said that in order to stabilize the economic situation in the country as well as economical and efficient use of public funds the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved the decision at its meeting on saving public funds and prevent budget loss.

All ministries and agencies have been ordered to conduct an inventory of state residences, public houses, vacation homes, health institutions, which are on the balance sheet of public authorities and other public bodies, enterprises, institutions and organizations established in the manner prescribed by state and within two months to pass them to the State Property Fund to sale in accordance with established procedure.

Moreover, it is prohibited to purchase vehicles, furniture, mobile phones, laptops, household appliances and repairs. Among other things, it is also banned to acquire uniforms, to expend on maintenance of mobile phones, to pay charter flights, etc.

For maintenance of budgetary institutions cannot be used more than one car, unless otherwise provided by law.

Cars that are on the balance sheet must be implemented in accordance with established legislative procedure.

It is forbidden to form without permission of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine new budgetary institutions, increasing the number of employees, filling of vacancies, issue of bonuses for civil servants for their diligent work, exemplary performance of job duties, etc.

The Minister reported that according to estimates the relevant resolution will save half a billion of budget money.

In addition, the Finance Minister said that in the near future the decision to reduce the staff of the central government will be agreed and taken.

Oleksander Shlapak informed that a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine adopted a decision on measures to balance the local budgets in 2014 during their execution.
The Finance Minister said that the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine recommended to local authorities and the State Treasury to take control of the financial management of local budgets. Therefore, local budgets will be spent on salaries and consumed energy. He underlined that only in the absence of state employees’ arrears of wages and payments for consumed energy we could talk about other financing costs.