Budget Equalization Fund Payment Amounts Decided
The Cabinet has approved the amount of budget equalization payments that it will provide local governments from the state budget: 303.7 million euros.
Of the sum approved at the sitting on April 5, 201.1 million euros will be support for education costs and 72.3 million for development equalization.
Of the education amount, 167 million euros covers the salaries of teachers and administrative staff at municipal and private schools, 8 million euros for textbooks and 14.8 million for expenses on school lunches for the first through the ninth grade.
As of this year, local governments may not spend the payroll assistance on textbooks.
As for the 72.3 million euros in the equalization fund, local governments are free to decide how to use the funds to improve access to public services. The support will be received by 183 of the country's 226 local governments, with 74 percent of the amount going to southern and northeastern Estonia and 26 percent to central and western Estonia.
The biggest payouts go to the cities of Narva, Kohtla-Järve and Tartu - 11 million, 5 million and 3.5 million euros. Per inhabitant, small Piirissaare and Peipsiääre municipalities in the southeast and the town of Kallaste, also on Lake Peipsi, lead the way with 320, 276 and 255 euros per capita.
Kristopher Rikken