The State budget, set at 22,935 million Tunisian dinars (MTD), allocates the lion’s share to the social field which accounts for 68% of the management expenditure, estimated at 13,540 MD.
Regarding development expenses, estimated at 5,200 MTD, they will be allocated at 68% to the economic sector.
Resources of the budget come up to 70% from own resources and 30% from loans.
Predictions of the draft State budget of 2012 are based on three hypotheses, namely economic activity, mobilization of resources and allocation of expenses.
According to the budget document, a copy of which was received by TAP news agency, the first hypothesis is based on the expected results of 2011, the development of different economic indicators, in accordance with the development model for 2012, the adoption of a reference oil price of 100 dollars per barrel for the whole year and a level of hydrocarbons production of 3.760 million tons of oil and 3.355 million tons of oil equivalent of natural gas.
The second hypothesis provides for allocating to the State budget 400 million dinars as
resources from funds and property seized by the State, in addition to the mobilization of external resources of 3.959 MTD as part of bilateral and multilateral co-operation to strengthen the different economic and social reforms.
According to the third hypothesis, 37.7% of the expenses (8,565 MTD) will be spent on salaries compared to 7,653 MTD for 2011 (+ 12.1%). These estimates took into account wage increases in the public service decided in 2011 and the recruitment of 21,138 employees.
Budget deficit
The draft State budget aims to limit the budget deficit to 6% of the GDP for a public debt volume of 46.2% of the GDP by late 2012, compared to 43.3% in the end of 2011.
According to the budget document, 6% is considered as an acceptable rate, given the exceptional conditions faced by the national economy.
The deficit needs to be controlled in the future and kept in a low level to reduce public debt.
The amount allocated to the repayment of public debt services (principal and interest) is set at 4,070 MTD to allow the state to honor its commitments at the domestic and foreign levels, especially since Tunisia will have to pay 960 MTD in 2012, under loans issued in 2002 from the international financial market (650 million dollars) as well as treasury bills (420 million dinars).
The budget document expects a tax burden of 19.3%, taking into account taxes on oil products and 17.8% excluding oil.
