Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- At the 28th plenary session of the Senate of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan, held on 8 July 2022, the reports of the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan on the execution of the State Budget of the Republic of Uzbekistan in 2021 and in the first quarter of 2022 were discussed.

As a result of the timely fiscal and monetary policy carried out in the republic, the economic growth rate in 2021 amounted to 7.4%. In the 1st quarter of 2022, GDP growth was ensured by 5.8%.

The volume of revenues of the State budget in 2021 increased by almost 32 trillion soums compared to the previous year. Positive growth rates continued in the first quarter of this year. In the first quarter of 2022, the revenues of the State budget increased by 8 trillion soums compared to the same period last year.

It was noted that the growth of State budget revenues was influenced by the expansion of the tax base due to changes in the tax policy of recent years, ongoing reforms in the sectors of the economy.

Financing of expenditures of the State budget is provided. Thus, in 2021, funds in the amount of 39 trillion 641 billion soums were allocated from the State budget for the maintenance and development of educational institutions, which make up the bulk of social spending. In addition, 20% more funds will be allocated to healthcare in 2021 than in 2020.

The revenues of local budgets in 2021 compared to the initial forecast indicators amounted to 119%, and in the first quarter of 2022 - 112%. Expenditures of local budgets were also executed in comparison with the plan by 111% and amounted to 65.5 trillion soums.

During the discussion, members of the Senate drew attention to the level of tax collection in the implementation of the forecast of State budget revenues established by the tax and customs authorities, to the issue of reducing tax debt and excessive payments.

Shortcomings in the execution of local budgets and the targeted use of income in excess of the established forecast were also noted.

The senators also expressed their attitude towards taking into account public opinion at the expense of the part of the local budget overfulfilled by the forecast through the Open Budget portal and stressed the need to ensure transparency and broad participation of citizens.

It was noted that shortcomings were made in ensuring the execution of revenues and expenditures of the State budget, the effective and targeted use of budget state trust funds, attention was drawn to such topical issues as mistakes made, measures taken to prevent and resolve them.

In particular, the debt (arrears) to the budget as of 1 January 2022 increased by 1.7 times compared to the corresponding period of 2021, the tax debt of large taxpayers - by 3.5 times. Of the 2 trillion 28 billion soums allocated to finance housing programs for the population, only 29.5% has been disbursed.

The senators also criticized that government customers circumvent competitive procurement methods by entering into direct contracts in violation of the law. In this regard, appropriate recommendations are given on the need to consider the responsibility of employees who allow shortcomings in this regard.

Of the 7,133 financial control measures taken to comply with budgetary discipline and targeted spending of budgetary funds, 5,380 or 75% showed shortages in the amount of 122 billion 800 million soums, 949.3 billion soums of illegal expenses.

No relevant decisions were made by the Jokargy Kenes of the Republic of Karakalpakstan, the Kengashes of People’s Deputies of the regions and the city of Tashkent, districts and cities regarding changes in the forecast indicators for income.

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