Alexander Deryugin: “In order to solve the issue of unused budget surpluses, it is necessary to look into its causes”

The RF Ministry of Finance proposed the ways of raising the efficiency of budget expenditures. Alexander Deryugin, Senior Researcher of the Gaidar Institute commented to RBC on draft amendments on budget spending optimization prepared by the RF Ministry of Finance.

In compliance with the existing regulations, unused federal budget surpluses can be carried over to the next year to finance similar expenses. The RF Ministry of Finance plans to limit for legal entities the transfer of funds, allowing it only in case of defense orders or international obligations, and to redistribute spendings under the new scheme through the reserve fund. According to Alexander Deryugin, in order to solve the issue of large surpluses it is necessary to look into its causes. If budget allocations were made at the end of the year, the carry-over is not the fault of the main administrator and the innovations proposed by the RF Ministry of Finance are unlikely to help. “If this problem is caused by delays on the part of the executive authorities, this educational measure can be useful,” the expert believes.