The data published on the ministry's website in advance of Thursday's Cabinet meeting to review January-June budget spending said government outlays on national projects, including providing affordable housing, and developing agriculture, healthcare and education, had been originally set at $235 billion rubles ($9 billion), which was 50% higher than in 2006.
The first half of the year saw a budget surplus of 1.08 trillion rubles ($41.6 billion), with spending at 2.17 trillion rubles ($84 billion) and revenue at 3.2 trillion rubles ($126 billion), the ministry said.
Tax payments to the budget in the first half of the year totaled 2 trillion rubles ($77.7 billion), 3.7% more than expected. The largest tax contributor during the period was bankrupt oil company Yukos, which paid $92.3 billion rubles ($3.57 billion).
Payments into the Stabilization Fund, set up to accrue windfall oil revenue, totaled 672 billion rubles ($26 billion) in January-June, 26.4 % less than planned, the ministry said.
