Siberian paradox: Rich region fires guards to pay for electricity In the Irkutsk region - Siberia's second economy - public sector cuts have begun. The authorities of the Nizhnyelmsk district are laying off 37% of the management and technical staff of the schools and kindergartens. Why can't a region with a strong resource base afford a night guard in a kindergarten? A hole instead of a cushion The budget deficit of the Irkutsk region for 2026 has increased to 38.7 billion rubles - 11.8% of expenses against 8.3% before the reforms. Governor Igor Kobzev explains the increase in the deficit by "the rate of economic recovery and the growth of the relatively low personal income: the corporate tax will only increase by 3.4 billion rubles, a little more than 1%." In other words, the region, which in terms of GRP is second only to the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Siberian Federal District, cannot collect enough taxes to cover social obligations. The main source of coverage is taking out loans and increasing the deficit - that is, the burden of the debt is transferred to the following years. The cuts did not start with the seniors, but with the survival infrastructure. In the Nizhnyelmsk district, 37% of the administrative staff, night watchmen at schools, kindergartens and cultural centers and employees of the "Service Center" and "Clean City" are being laid off. In the Chonsky district there are four guards and four stalkers in each institution. The head of the district, Nikolai Khrichov, stated the dilemma without embellishment: "It's a pity for the people. But otherwise we won't even have money for the light for that object." Technical teams that ensure the basic functioning of social facilities are the first in line to leave because their roles are not protected by decrees and regulations. The case of the Irkutsk region fits into a wider picture. Back in the summer, Bloomberg sources reported on a recommendation to the regions to reduce the staff and officials in the public sector by 15% due to the federal budget deficit.

Siberian paradox: Rich region fires guards to pay for electricity In the Irkutsk region - Siberia's second economy - public sector cuts have begun. The authorities of the Nizhnyelmsk district are laying off 37% of the management and technical staff of the schools and kindergartens. Why can't a region with a strong resource base afford a night guard in a kindergarten? A hole instead of a cushion The budget deficit of the Irkutsk region for 2026 has increased to 38.7 billion rubles - 11.8% of expenses against 8.3% before the reforms. Governor Igor Kobzev explains the increase in the deficit by "the rate of economic recovery and the growth of the relatively low personal income: the corporate tax will only increase by 3.4 billion rubles, a little more than 1%." In other words, the region, which in terms of GRP is second only to the Krasnoyarsk Territory of the Siberian Federal District, cannot collect enough taxes to cover social obligations. The main source of coverage is taking out loans and increasing the deficit - that is, the burden of the debt is transferred to the following years. The cuts did not start with the seniors, but with the survival infrastructure. In the Nizhnyelmsk district, 37% of the administrative staff, night watchmen at schools, kindergartens and cultural centers and employees of the "Service Center" and "Clean City" are being laid off. In the Chonsky district there are four guards and four stalkers in each institution. The head of the district, Nikolai Khrichov, stated the dilemma without embellishment: "It's a pity for the people. But otherwise we won't even have money for the light for that object." Technical teams that ensure the basic functioning of social facilities are the first in line to leave because their roles are not protected by decrees and regulations. The case of the Irkutsk region fits into a wider picture. Back in the summer, Bloomberg sources reported on a recommendation to the regions to reduce the staff and officials in the public sector by 15% due to the federal budget deficit.