Kelantan tables deficit budget of RM1.61bil for 2024

KOTA BARU: The Kelantan government tabled the state’s 2024 Budget on Thursday (Nov 23) amounting to RM1.61bil with an estimated deficit of RM178.49mil.

Mentri Besar Datuk Mohd Nassuruddin Daud said that despite being a deficit budget, it still prioritises projects or programmes that stimulate the prosperity and well-being of the state and the people.

“The state government proposes the budget for 2024 with an estimated breakdown of operating expenditure at RM1.15bil or 70.98%, and development expenditure at RM468.36mil (29.02%),” he said when tabling the budget at the State Assembly sitting here.

Mohd Nassuruddin said with the theme of “Kelantan Mampan Berkat Sejahtera”, the budget focuses on five core areas, namely the empowerment of religion and education with an allocation of RM208.92mil, people’s well-being (RM375.61mil), progressive economy (RM349.7mil), environmental conservation (RM12.80mil), and ihtirafi (professionalism in) governance (RM21.85mil).

He said the estimated state revenue for 2024 is expected to be RM967.25mil, including tax revenue of RM224.94mil, non-tax revenue of RM364.05mil, and non-revenue receipts of RM378.26mil.

The Mentri Besar said the total amount indicates a decrease in revenue by RM15.89mil, or 1.62%, compared to the estimated revenue for 2023, which was RM983.14mil.

“Land revenue is the largest contributor with a total of RM377mil, accounting for 38.98% of the total revenue. This shows an increase of RM20.72mil, or 5.81%, compared to the 2023 estimate of RM356.28mil,” he said.

Mohd Nassuruddin said the receipts from the Federal Government are estimated to be RM331.7mil, a reduction of 15.10% compared to 2023, which was RM390.70mil, in the form of grants allocated to the State Treasury as stipulated in the Federal Constitution.

“Receipts from other sources will amount to RM99.93mil,” he said. – BK