The total national budget for 2009/10 amounts to R738.5 billion, from which National Government is allocated R483.6 billion, provinces R231 billion and local government R23.8 billion over each of the medium-term expenditure framework (MTEF) period. These figures are inclusive of the debt service costs and the contingency reserve. The allocations take into account government's spending priorities, the revenue-raising capacity and functional responsibilities of each sphere, and inputs from various intergovernmental forums and the recommendations of the FFC.