YEREVAN, OCTOBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. About 215.8 billion drams (over 495.7 million USD) was allocated from the RA state budget for the purpose of financing current expenditures in January-Augsut 2006, which ensured the execution of the nine-month and annual programs by 83.1% and 61.4% respectively. Current expenditures grew by 17.5% or 32.1 bln drams on the same months of 2005. According to the RA Ministry of Finance and Economy, 11.1% of current expenditures was made to pay salaries of state institutions' employees. The nine-month program on these expenditures was fulfilled by 85.7%. Allocations for salaries grew by 22.9% compared with the same period of last year, which is mostly due to an increase in the base salary of civil servants since January 1, 2006. In the indicated period, subsidies of 11.6 bln drams were provided from the state budget, which made up 5.4% of the current expenditures and 80.5% of the programmed allocations for the first nine months of 2006. The total amount of subsidies declined by 4.2% or 469.3 mln drams on the same months of 2005, which is mainly due to a reduction in subsidies to the water industry and irrigation system.

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