PRAGUE, Sept 25 (Reuters) - The Czech cabinet approved on Monday its 2018 central state budget draft with a planned deficit of 50 billion crowns ($2.29 billion), the last finance plan for the centre-left ruling coalition before an October election.

The government is aiming to boost teachers’ pay and other salaries while also trimming a deficit seen at 60 billion crowns in 2017.

The state has had little trouble with financing while the country has the lowest unemployment in the European Union and a fast-growing economy.

“The government unanimously approved the state budget proposal for 2018,” Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka said on Twitter while the cabinet met.

He said the draft, which will go to parliament by the end of the month but voted on by lawmakers after an Oct. 20-21 national election, would cover raising pensions, public workers’ salaries and spending on science & research and universities.

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More details in Czech.