The Committee Members supported the pattern of estimated Expenditures towards Culture and Art in the forthcoming Budget year.
V. Yavorivsky, Chairman of the Committee, noted that the Budget funding of Cultural and Art institutions and events, from both State and Local Budgets, requires structural improvements. First of all, this applies to a transfer of using State Social Standards in providing cultural and art programmes. The drafting of these standards was given the lowest priority in the Budget hierarchy.
The outcome of this discussion resulted in the Committee deciding to support the Bill on The State Budget 2008, and to improve the structure of expenditure towards Culture and Art in February 2008, when finalizing the relevant amendments.
The Committee Members insisted on the urgent redistribution of The Ministry for Culture and Tourism funds, and in particular to cut back by 2 million Hryvnias funding towards 'Refresher Training, Skills Conversion and Training of Scientific and Teaching Staff for the Culture and Art sector by The State Academy of Culture and Art Heads.'
It was also suggested that the funding of the Budget programme of 'Financial Support for National Creative Societies in the field of Culture and Art' should be increased by 2 million Hryvnias.
In addition, the Committee Members deem it necessary to remove a special item from the Programme 'Provisions towards finding and supporting talented and creative children and youth', which envisages funding ' inter alia, of the organising and holding of The National Television Children's Competition 'A Step towards the Stars'.