The Parliament has voted on the 2025 state budget in the second reading. Among the most significant measures planned for next year are salary increases for some categories of public sector employees, energy compensation, and an increase in social benefits.
As a result of the approval of an amendment, the authorities will increase the salaries of teachers holding degrees by up to 15.2%, compared to the current year, depending on the degree held. The enormous increases, up to 2,016 lei, will benefit holders of the superior teaching degree. Police officers, rescuers, and specialists from the National Probation Inspectorate and the National Penitentiary Administration will also see salary increases. Approximately 170,000 public sector employees and 50,000 healthcare workers will benefit from these increases. The authorities will raise the minimum salary in the public sector to 5,500 lei.
Additionally, starting May 1, 2025, the authorities will increase the minimum pension for retirement age to 3,300 lei for individuals who have completed 40 years of contribution. From April 1, 2025, pensions and other social benefits will be indexed by 6.1%. Deputy Veronica Briceag also proposed an increase in the salaries of employees of the State Hydrometeorological Service. Starting January 1, 2025, the authorities will increase their salary by 5%, and on May 1, they will rise by another 9%.
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For next year, state budget revenues are projected to total 71.55 billion lei, 6.8% more than the revenues projected for 2024. According to the authorities, the budget is one of solidarity and social support, with the increase in revenues attributed to economic recovery and the impact of fiscal, customs, and better revenue management policies.
At the same time, next year, expenditures are projected to reach 85.44 billion lei, which is 4.1% more than last year’s projected amount. Capital investments will increase by 18% due to twelve new projects.
The authorities will allocate over 20.7 billion lei, or 24.3% of the state budget expenditures, for social protection. The authorities will increase the amount of the one-time childbirth allowance to 21,350 lei. The monthly allowance for rehabilitated victims of political repression will also increase. The authorities will allocate 120 million lei to enhance the social benefits for war veterans. Energy compensation for vulnerable consumers will be provided during the winter period. Furthermore, the authorities will raise the value of guarantees through the “Prima Casa” and “Prima Casa Plus” programs from 3 billion to 4.5 billion lei.
Education will receive 23% of the state budget, nearly 20 billion lei. For the free meals of students in grades V-IX, starting September 1, 2025, the authorities will allocate over 205 million lei. The authorities will allocate about 147 million lei for buses, computers, and furniture for 20 model schools. Technical projects will be developed for the complete renovation of 15 more schools. Also, at the request of deputies Radu Marian and Eugeniu Sinchevici, the authorities accepted the proposal to allocate 10 million lei for the renovation work completion at the Social Innovation Center, a co-working space for youth organizations. The authorities will also allocate 30.5 million lei for competitive sports development.
For the economy, the 2025 budget will allocate over 9.1 billion lei or 10.7% of the total budget expenditures. 88% of this sum will go toward programs to develop the economy. For the transport sector, the authorities will allocate over 4.1 billion lei for the repair and maintenance of local and national roads. Seven externally funded projects will be underway next year. The authorities will allocate 3.1 billion lei for agriculture and 176 million lei to support small and medium-sized enterprises. Additionally, an amendment proposed by Deputy Dorian Istratii, which includes the allocation of 50 million lei to support the business environment and attract investors, was accepted.
According to estimates, the state budget for next year will have a deficit of 13.89 billion lei, representing 4.1% of GDP.