Albania Plans Expenditure Cuts
Economy, General News, Politics, Top News Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Tirana | 19 August 2009 |
Albanian Prime Minister Sali Berisha told his cabinet Wednesday that the government plans to cut expenditures by 15.3 million euros, by slashing public transport privileges for bureaucrats and legislators.
A proposed bill would dramatically reduce the number of drivers and cars provided to heads of state agencies, state-owned companies and legislators.
“Our valuations have shown that we spend around US$19,000 (13,474 euros) a year on transportation costs for a [single] director, which includes salaries for drivers, car purchases and maintenance,” said Berisha.
“Our goal is two cut these costs by two thirds,” he added.
The Albanian premier said that transportation benefits for MPs will be transformed into a monthly bonus, adding that Albanian taxpayers were paying thrice as much as Swedes for their legislators’ transportation allowances.
The global economic crisis has caused a major reduction in state revenues, forcing the government into belt-tightening moves.
Lower revenues and higher expenditures during the recent election campaign also contributed to raising the budget deficit for the first seven months of 2009 to 307 million euros.
Source: Balkainsight
Short URL: http://www.albanianeconomy.com/news/?p=1997
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