Budget Bill To Be Discussed At Majlis Open Session On Wednesday

Tehran, May 7, IRNA – The government-proposed budget bill for the current fiscal year of 1391 (starting on March 20) will be tabled for discussion at Majlis open session possibly on Wednesday. Member of Majlis Joint Commission, Moussa Ghorbani, told IRNA on Sunday that reviewing of the bill might end in the Joint Commission on Sunday but it will be on table for discussion at Majlis open session on Wednesday based on plans made by the Presiding Board. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad presented the administration’s draft of the national budget bill for Iranian calendar year of 1391 to the Majlis in February. The proposed national budget amounts to about 5.1 quadrillion rials (approximately $416 billion). The national budget for the previous year had envisaged about 5.39 quadrillion rials of expenditures. Although there is a small decrease in the draft national budget compared to the national budget of the previous Iranian calendar year, the defense budget shows an increase of 127 percent. The administration’s draft national budget plan also allocates more money for development, scientific research, and health projects. The funding for running the government has been decreased by 5.6 percent and the government’s tax revenues have been envisaged to rise by 20 percent. Reportedly, next year’s national budget is based on an oil price of $85 per barrel and the average value of the U.S. dollar for the fiscal year has been projected to be 11,500 rials./end