ArmenPress
Jan 11 2005
ARMENIAN-POPULATED REGIONS OF GEORGIA HAVE SCANTY BUDGETS
AKHALKALAKI, JANUARY 11, ARMENPRESS: The local budgets of two
Armenian populated regions in southern Georgia-Akhalkalaki and
Ninotsminda- make 3.6 million and 2.6 million laris respectively (one
Georgian lari is equal to $0.57). According to a local A-Info news
agency, the peculiarity of local budgets is that they are formed by
state subsidies and the legislation prohibits increasing their
revenues through other sources.
The state subsidies are enough only to pay pensions and public
sector wages and no money is left for school or roads repair. Thus,
only 100,000 laris are earmarked for health issues in Akhalkalaki,
while the money stipulated for road building is enough to cover with
asphalt a 100-meter long section.