Bengoa explains deficit

[NewsWhore]

Hacienda Minister Vicente Bengoa says that the DR's fiscal deficit totals RD$13 billion, while denying government overspending. Bengoa said officials were actually expecting the deficit to be close to the RD$30 billion approved in the supplementary budget. The minister has also denied that the deficit is directly linked with the increase in public payroll, arguing that there have only been payroll increases in Education, Public Health and the National Police. He added that the payroll only makes up 17% of the government's total spending. Bengoa attributed the deficit to an increase in food and fuel prices. He explained that government has approved RD$37.9 billion in subsidies, of which RD$28.6 billion goes to the electricity sector.

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