In an emergency meeting, Riga City Council supported amendments in this year’s Municipality budget providing increasing the budget expenditure by nearly 10 million lats.

36 Deputies voted on the budget amendments, while 17 Deputies – against, reports LETA.

This year, Riga Municipality’s budget deficit is 37.8 million lats, and it is planned to cover it with the provisions made in the past years.

During the previous years the Municipality has accrued 86 million lats, which will be directed to cover the budget deficit. The rest of the provisions are scheduled for covering the Municipality’s budget deficit next year.

The overall Municipality’s budget expenditure is to be added by 9 888 455 lats, foreseeing the total amount of expenditure at the extent of 452 945 291 lats. In line with the budget amendment draft, the general budget expenditure will be augmented by 10 164 691 lats, while the special budget expenditure – reduced by 276 236 lats.

The overall revenues are planned to be raised by 5 465 013 lats, foreseeing the total revenue sum at the extent of 415 067 379 lats. The transfer revenues from the state budget – earmarked subsidies and subsidies – are scheduled to be increased by 5 939 582 lats, while the local government institutions’ revenues – are to be reduced by 198 333 lats.

Special budget revenues are to be decreased by 276 236 lats.

The amendments in this year’s budget also provides granting additional 300 000 lats to Riga Tourism Development Bureau (RTDB) marketing activities – to carry out the Capital’s advertising and marketing programme in eight countries. Riga City Council opposition Deputies were already against this proposal.

Moreover, it is planned to spend 38 500 lats on RTDB information material – brochure and tourism guide – publishing, souvenir line under the trade mark Live Riga – 41 000 lats, Riga conference, congress and business tourism possibility marketing and promotion, Meet Riga brand development – 75 000 lats, on a new 20 square metre wide tourism and information centre creation in Mikhail Chehov Riga Russian Drama Theatre building at Kaļķu and Kalēju Street corner – 23 500 lats. Furthermore, on Riga as European Culture Capital of 2014 advertising campaign realization – 110 000 lats, on foreign media visit organizing regarding Riga as the Christmas tree origin country promotion – 12 million lats.