Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- On 28 May 2021, at a plenary meeting of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis, reports of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the execution of the State budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan at the end of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021 were discussed.

It was noted that in connection with quarantine measures, the growth of the national economy of the republic at the end of 2020 slowed down to 1.6%, and the volume of GDP amounted to 580.2 trillion soums. The volume of GDP in the 1st quarter of 2021 compared to the same period of last year increased by 3%.

The inflation rate in 2020 was below the established forecast parameters, 12.5-13.0%, and amounted to 11.1%, and in the 1st quarter of 2021 - 10.9%.

State budget revenues in 2020 amounted to 132.9 trillion soums, and the forecast of 128.7 trillion soums was fulfilled by 103.3% or exceeded by 4,192 billion soums, or increased by 20.8 trillion soums compared to 2019.

In the first quarter of 2021, state budget revenues made up 33.9 trillion soums, or actually exceeded by 2.0 trillion soums (106%), compared with the projected figures of 31.9 trillion soums. Incomes increased by 5.4 trillion soums compared to the same period of last year.

Revenues of local budgets in 2020 amounted to 27 trillion 702.9 billion soums, or 110.9% in relation to the revised forecast.

In the first quarter of 2021, the revenue side of local budgets in relation to the forecast was fulfilled by 116% (1.1 trillion soums more) and amounted to 7, 9 trillion soums, and expenses in relation to the plan were executed by 94.7% and amounted to 10. 9 trillion soums.

State budget expenditures in 2020 were provided for 100% and amounted to 144.1 trillion soums or 24.8% of GDP, in the first quarter of 2021 - 34.1 trillion soums or 26.6% of GDP.

Funds in the amount of 74.2 trillion soums or 51.5% of total expenses were allocated from the state budget to finance social spending in 2020, in the first quarter of 2021 - 18.2 trillion soums (53.3% of total expenses).

Local budget expenditures were executed by 104.8% of the plan and amounted to 47.2 trillion soums.

During 2020, the internal audit and financial control services also revealed financial errors and shortcomings during 2,726 control measures totaling 309.2 billion soums, in connection with which 1238 documents of inspections in the amount of 223.4 billion soums were sent to law enforcement agencies for adoption. legal measures.

The recovery of identified financial errors and shortcomings in the amount of 34.3 billion soums was ensured, and as a result of preventive measures, the payment of illegal payments in the amount of 165.8 billion soums was prevented.

During the plenary session of the Senate, when considering the reports, the main attention was paid to the following topical issues and their solution:

- the state of execution of revenues and expenditures of the State budget at the end of 2020 and the first quarter of 2021, targeted spending of allocated funds;

- revenues calculated for taxes and customs payments, the level of tax collection, tax arrears, overpayments in the implementation of the forecast of the State budget revenues established by the tax and customs authorities;

- execution of local budgets and targeted use of income received in excess of the forecast;

- the state of accounting for public opinion through the Open Budget portal at the expense of the overfulfilled forecast part of the local budget;

- errors and shortcomings made when using budget funds, measures taken to prevent them.

In accordance with the resolution of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 13 April 2021 No. PP-5072 "On additional measures to ensure the active participation of citizens in the budget process", the Civil Initiatives Budget fund was opened in the form of an off-budget current account (205 total) in order to channel funds for events formed on the basis of public opinion by all district and city khokimiyats, as well as preventing the misuse of these funds.

In addition, 92.7 billion soums have been allocated from the republican budget for 14 districts and cities in which the experiment is being carried out, which are transferred to the relevant local budgets in accordance with the established procedure. These funds were directed to the “Civil Initiatives Budget” fund.

On the basis of the resolution of the Kengash of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan from 22 April 2021 No. PK-213-IV "On ensuring public participation when spending local budget funds", the Standard Regulation on the procedure for allocating funds from the budgets of districts (cities) to events formed on the basis of public opinions.

The corresponding district (city) Kengashes of people’s deputies are entrusted with the task of approving the district (city) Regulations, formed on the basis of this Model Regulations by all district (city) khokimiyats.

To date, in 159 districts and cities, the corresponding district (city) Kengashes of people’s deputies, on the basis of the Model Regulations, have made decisions on the approval of the procedure for allocating budget funds to events formed on the basis of public opinion. In addition, in 46 districts and cities, draft decisions on the approval of this Regulation were submitted for consideration at regular sessions of district (city) Kengashes of people’s deputies.

It was noted that the Senate will carry out permanent parliamentary control over the direction of funds in the amount of 5% of the approved general expenses and 30% of additional revenues of the local budget to finance events formed on the basis of public opinion and their targeted spending.

The relevant resolutions of the Senate were adopted on the issues considered.