ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 10. President
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev stressed the need for increased attention to
the quality of budget planning in Kazakhstan's regions at a
Government meeting, Trend reports via the press service of the Kazakh
President.
The president remarked, "In recent years, there has been a
substantial expansion of the revenue base for regions, particularly
through the transfer of specific taxes and payments from the
national level to local authorities. However, this has resulted in
numerous instances where additional expenditures have been placed
on local budgets without the necessary financial support. Such
practices have disrupted the intended logic of inter-budgetary
relations and eroded trust in the decisions made."
He further emphasized the importance of achieving a rational
balance between the financial resources transferred and the
increasing responsibilities of local executive bodies.
"The revised Budget Code has redefined inter-budgetary relations
with an emphasis on predictability and accountability across all
levels of budgeting. It is now essential to closely monitor how
these provisions are functioning in the regions. If the current
mechanisms are found to be ineffective, timely adjustments must be
made," the president stated.
Tokayev also noted that the Government must take measures to
strengthen the financial stability of the regions.
"This is a strategic task. We cannot allow the responsibility to
be diluted across different levels of government," he added.
