MOSCOW, May 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's economics minister said Tuesday that financing for federal target programs would increase by 100 billion rubles ($3.67 billion) in 2007 against this year.
"[Financing] for the whole range of federal target programs has almost been doubled," German Gref said, adding that a total of 472 billion rubles ($17.3 billion) would be allocated for the programs.
Financing for the Children of Russia program, overseen by the Health and Social Development Ministry, will be increased 70% next year, and funding for the program providing housing for military personnel, people in dilapidated housing and other groups, will almost double from 28 billion rubles ($1.03 billion) in 2006 to 45.6 billion ($1.67 billion) in 2007, Gref said
Funds for the program on modernizing Russia's borders will grow from 6-8 billion ($220mln-$293.32 mln) to 20 billion rubles ($733.3 million).
Funding for some other programs, including the program to switch to a professional army with one-year draft service, will be preserved at 2006 levels.
Gref said that all relevant budgetary allocations had been approved.
"We informed the ministries this morning of spending margins in terms of investment and federal target programs," he said.
This year, the government is pursing 108 federal programs in six main areas - infrastructure, children, justice reform, environment, economy, and regional development. The number varies every year, as does the funding. Experts say this makes the programs less effective, although spending is generally transparent.
Experts say several giant programs may account for 50% of all funds allocated for the purpose, and propose reducing the number of low-budget programs on grounds they are ineffective in addressing federal-level problems.
