NUSAJAYA, Nov 19 (Bernama) -- Johor will see a deficit budget next year with its administration expenses projected at RM785.65 million against an estimated income of RM784.15 million.

Menteri Besar Johor Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman however said the deficit for next year will be a reduced figure of RM1.50 million compared with this year's budget deficit of RM2.75 million.

"Tax revenue for 2010 is estimated at RM278.9 million which will be an increase by RM36.53 million compared with the original estimate this year," he said when tabling Johor's 2010 Budget at the State Legislative Assembly here today.

Abdul Ghani said the non tax revenue collections had been estimated to rise by RM7.18 million to RM362.53 million, while non revenue receipts will amount to RM142.72 million. Administration expenses have been estimated to rise from RM748.73 million to RM785.65 million.

Among the state's management expenses will be the allocation and fixed payments including loan repayments to the Federal Government amounting to RM30.78 million and the chanelling of RM100 million into the Development Funds.

Emolument expenses will amount to RM300.11 million, expenses on services and supplies (RM220.57 million), assets (RM14.19 million) and other expenses (RM2.43 million).

“Development allocation for next year is RM228.57 million including RM53.06 million for the Menteri Besar office, Public Works Department (RM71.25 million), agriculture and rural development (RM36.51 million), State Religious Department (RM22.3 million), Local Government and Housing (RM10.2 million) and forest and tourism development RM7.05 million," he said.

He said next year's budget will focus on sustainable supportive measures to achieve the national key results area which places the people and performance as priority.

Meanwhile, Abdul Ghani said Johor received investments of RM2.6 billion from January to June this year, putting the state second in place after Sarawak with the highest amount of investments received.

From the investments, 62.7 per cent was foreign direct investment with five countries as main investors namely Singapore, Japan, Korea, Austria and the United States.

Investments in the state are expected to rise significantly next year with the entry of several major investments in the oil and gas sector estimated at RM49 billion.

He said Johor received an allocation of RM91 million under the country's first economic stimulus package and another RM135 million through the second package.