Minister of Finance Dr. Youssef Boutros Ghali has reiterated that the final state budget accounts for the fiscal year 2004/2005 have been estimated at 177.4 billion pounds, amended and then tied at...

  Minister of Finance Dr. Youssef Boutros Ghali has reiterated that the final state budget accounts for the fiscal year 2004/2005 have been estimated at 177.4 billion pounds, amended and then tied at 188.3 billion pounds.  He said the final statement has been set at 179.8 with an increase of 2.4 billion pounds over the original tie, saving 8.5 billion pounds from the original amount. The available state budget resources have been set at 125.1 billion pounds, amended by 10.8 billion pounds giving an amended estimate of 135.9 and leading to a statement of 118.4 or waivering 6.7 billion pounds from the original estimate. The overall budget deficit has been calculated at 52.3 billion pounds later amended to 61.4 billion pounds or an increase of approximately 9 billion pounds. The net budget deficit has been calculated at 7.5 billion pounds. The Ministry of Finance report has concluded expenditure of the heath sector in the budget at 9.9  billion pounds in the fiscal year 2004/2005. Education expenditure in the fiscal year 2004/2005 has reached 20.2 billion pounds on pre-university years and 8.3 billion pounds on university education or 15.9% of general expenditure. The report reveals that subsidies on basic goods and services in the fiscal year 2004/2005 have reached 13.8 billion pounds;  an increase of 34%.  The report also concludes that the state will continue to support lower brackets and  social insurance systems directly from the treasury. (source : Ministry of Finance)