“Behind the numbers, the essence. The best life of the Athenians. It changes every day in the city, every neighborhood. Every euro counts. He makes the place”, says Mr. Bakoyiannis
Budget exceeding €1 billion and supporting the largest development program in its history Municipality of Athens the Municipal Council of the city voted today by a majority, following a proposal by the Mayor of Athens, Kostas Bakoyannis.
The Municipality’s financial plan for the coming year foresees revenues of over one billion euros, a 153% increase in investment as well as financed projects of 510 million euros, which mainly come from European and national funds and ensure that Athens significantly enlarges its its economy, is getting stronger and steadily progressing to the growth leap it needs in the post-Covid era.
“The Budget highlights our continuous and systematic effort to improve at all levels the daily life of the citizen, as well as the visitor to the city. However, behind the numbers lies the essence: The improvement of the lives of the Athenians. It changes every day in the city, every neighborhood. Every euro we spend counts.
It makes the place: From the largest regeneration project in the history of the Municipality to the smallest flower bed in the most remote community, we grow from edge to edge and from the center to the entire perimeter, the possibilities, the horizon and the dreams of the city”, he said in proposal by the Mayor of Athens to add that “Athens today lives again and dreams for tomorrow».
The formation of this development program, unprecedented in size, required proper planning, excellent planning, but also the formation of mature proposals that ensure the leveraging of as many European funds as possible. In addition, the city’s main weapon of economic defense is the prudent management of finances, directing the resources that are available to important infrastructure projects that Athens needs.
Besides, as the Mayor of Athens noted for the first time, the amount of the Investment Program reaches 174.93 million euros, while the Technical Program of the Municipality amounts to 105.94 million euros, including major technical interventions, such as road construction projects and construction of rainwater and drainage networks in the area of Eleonas, upgrading of the road network, but also a large bio-waste sorting program at the source.
Budget with a positive social sign
At the same time, in a particularly difficult economic situation, the municipal authority supports the citizens in practice, as for the first time after decades, the Municipality of Athens reduces the Cleaning and Lighting Fees by 5%, supporting the citizens and returning to them, a part of the efficient financial management of the previous three years.
“The fact that we look ahead and invest in a better tomorrow does not mean that we overlook the needs of today” said K. Bakoyiannis, reminding the opposition that when the global pandemic hit the lives of the Athenians, the Municipality was there. “It was our self-evident obligation to support Athenian society, citizens and businesses in practice, in the midst of a crisis of unprecedented scale and intensity,” he added.
Revenues of more than €1 billion, high collectability and absorption of resources
According to the budget, the Municipality’s revenue for 2023 is set at 1.022 billion euros, compared to 917.66 million euros in 2022.
This is an increase of 104.34 million euros, which is based on the correct management of the municipality’s finances, but also on the maximum possible absorption of resources.
It is characteristic that the absorption in the Investment Program will exceed 40 million euros for the first time, showing an increase of 156% compared to 2019.
The Mayor of Athens pointed out that “the projected increase in general revenues is based on the utilization of Digital Transformation, the optimization of computer programs and the operation of the electronic payments program.
“These actions allowed us to ensure the functionality of the collection mechanism for everyone without exception. They have led us to secure little from many, not to ask much from few“, he emphasized.
Collections in the municipality are also “running” at particularly high rates, as they move at a growth rate of 22.4%, while cash flow also remains high and ranges from 45 to 50 million euros.
“These are fully confirmed by the last report of October 20, 2022 by Moody’s, in which the excellent financial position of our Municipality, the prudent management and the low levels of debt compared to those of other local governments in Europe are highlighted“, noted Mr. Bakoyannis.
Concluding his presentation, the Mayor of Athens pointed out that today’s result is the product of the work of many people and once again thanked the executives and partners of the Municipal Authority, as well as the employees of the Municipality, who as he emphasized “they give their best for our Athens».
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