The year has only lasted two months, but ministries already want to make changes to the budget. Finance Minister Jürgen Ligi told ERR that it is sensible to make changes as little as possible and preferably in the fall. However, he does not rule out that something will be changed in the spring as well.
Ligi said that several ministers have talked about using government reserves. There are disputes over this. The Finance Minister explained that if something has been left out of the budget, it is not always an extraordinary matter. If it is an extraordinary matter, then it is justified to make a supplementary budget or use government reserves.
There are various plans regarding the public transport reform. Some say that pensioners and children must pay for tickets. Others say that this is out of the question. The government has not yet made any decisions.
Ligi did not say who else wants additional funds from the reserves. He said he has heard of a desire to make budget changes in the spring. The Finance Minister estimates that ministries' change wishes could amount to up to 100 million euros.
Ligi said there is no room for a supplementary budget. Increasing expenses more than revenues is not possible. He stressed that there is a 4.5 percent limit ahead and that signals of a positive supplementary budget are mistaken.
The Finance Minister said there will be many changes during the year, especially in defense expenditures. At the moment, there is no impression that any procurement is dragging. Ligi said he cannot alone allow or forbid a positive supplementary budget. He can only convince if the government is of a different opinion.
Ligi said that forecasts also show a smaller deficit. The government must be careful not to increase the deficit. The sustainability of the budget is in a difficult situation due to defense expenditures.
The Finance Minister said that defense expenditures lead to a large increase in debt burden. This means risks if interest rates rise. Ligi said he knows how bad it is when the state does not control its budget. He said that the new budget forecast will come at the beginning of March and it will certainly cause discontent.