Environment gets big boost

The central government plans to spend some 9.37 billion yuan ($1.51 billion) on energy conservation and environmental protection in 2013, up 47.2 percent, the biggest year-on-year increase among all spending categories in the government's budget sheet posted on the website of the Ministry of Finance Monday.

When combined with local government spending on the environment, the total will reach 210.13 billion yuan this year, an annual increase of 18.8 percent.

Experts say the move is timely. "Environment-related topics have been hotly discussed in recent months, and some environmental issues, especially air pollution, have escalated into severe social problems," Gou Yannan, professor of public finance at Fudan University, told the Global Times.

"This reflects the central government's determination in tackling environmental issues that have surfaced in tandem with the country's social development and restructuring," Gou added.

The central government's budget also shows it plans to inject 128.98 billion yuan into public security this year, up 9 percent year-on-year.

Of the total, the budget for paramilitary police will reach 100.63 billion yuan to help improve the dining, accommodation of officers and their facilities.

"A moderate increase in public security does not mean that the efforts made by local authorities in maintaining social stability are small," Gou added.

Media reports have lambasted the central government for not investing enough on people's welfare, citing the small increases in spending on education, medical care and employment.

Experts told the Global Times the investments made by local governments in social services are more important than spending by the central level. "Take education as an example, the central government supports higher education, while local governments focus on basic education," Gou added.

Total government revenue is expected to hit 6 trillion yuan while spending will be 6.95 trillion yuan, creating a deficit of 950 billion yuan.

The ministry's Web posting said tax revenues collected by the central government are expected to increase by 7.5 percent to 5.73 trillion yuan this year. The country's value-added tax will make up most of the tax revenue, accounting for some 2.09 trillion yuan, up 6.5 percent year-on-year.