Minister of Finance budget proposal totals EUR 34.7 billion
In the Ministry of Finance's budget discussions, state budget expenditure for 2002 was totalled at EUR 34.7 billion. Revenue from income taxation is expected to fall slightly compared to this year. The budget surplus will amount to EUR 1.3 billion. The central government surplus in relation to GDP will fall next year to 1.2 per cent from this year's 1.9 per cent as estimated on the basis of the national accounts.
The Ministry proposes that the national pension contributions of the most labour-intensive private employers be reduced by 0.7 percentage points, and those of the other private employers be reduced by 0.5 percentage points.
Taxes on earned income are to be reduced by approximately EUR 685 million over the year.
The Ministry of Finance's proposal includes the additions agreed on by the Parliamentary Groups of the Government Parties in June.
The budget proposal of the Ministry of Finance is on the Internet at www.vn.fi/vm/budjetti (in Finnish).
For further information, please contact:
Timo Viherkenttä, Budget Director, tel. +358 9 160 3105
Hannu Mäkinen, Deputy Budget Director, tel. +358 9 160 3036
Helena Tarkka, Senior Adviser for Finance, tel. +358 9 160 4876