RAMALLAH, December 8, 2011 (WAFA) - The total amount of general government expenses reached $3,293.5 million in 2010, according to a Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) report on Thursday.

The report said 93.3% of the $3,293.5 million are expenses of the Central Government, distributed mainly on compensation of employees at 56.5% and social benefits at 15.6%, while the percentage of expenses on goods and services and other expenses was 15.0% and 11.1% respectively.

The results indicated that the amount of local government expenses amounted to $220.0 million in 2010.

This sum was mainly distributed on other expenses such as insurance and maintenance of vehicles and workers’ allowances, at a ratio of 33.6%, the use of goods and services at 32.8%, and compensation of employees at 30.1%.

The report said total, general government revenues reached $3,589.7 million in 2010, of which 91.3% were central government revenues, mainly tax revenues at 55.4%, grants and aids at 39.3%, and other revenues at 5.3%.

The results showed that total local government spending amounted to US$312.2 million in 2010, which was mainly distributed on other revenues: margins on sales of water and electricity to the public, at a ratio of 82.8%, taxes and fees at 9.6%, and grants and social contributions at 6.6% and 1.0% respectively.

The calculation of the net operating balance is calculated by subtracting the total expenses from total revenues, which amounted to US$296.2 million. This means that the gross revenues exceeded the gross expenses by this amount, and is traced to grants and aid which formed 36.5% of the total amount of revenues.

The central government expenses to its revenues totaled the ratio of 93.8%, while the ratio of local government expenses was 70.5%, the report said.

M.H./F.J.