Local authorities underfinance the housing and utilities sector - Zubko
UAH 124 billion - these are budget revenues of local self-governments for 8 months of the current year, which is UAH 28 billion more than in the previous year. At the same time, the housing and utilities sector financing volumes for preparing for the heating season amount to UAH 3.5 billion.
It was reported during the government session by Hennadiy Zubko, Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Utilities Sector of Ukraine.
The vice prime minister explained that the mentioned amount includes preparation of heat supply enterprises, water supply sector, and the housing stock, etc. "In 2015, the financing volume for preparing for the heating season for the regions amounted to UAH 2.1 billion. This means that the local self-government has increased their expenses for the sector only by 50%. As compared with the additional revenues of billions of hryvnias received by local budgets as a result of the financial decentralization, it is incomprehensible for whatever reason the housing and utilities sector falls out of the priorities of the local authorities", emphasized Hennadiy Zubko.
"The housing and utilities sector should be of top priority among the costs of the local self-governments. In the first instance this includes providing high-quality services to population in the area of heat, water supply and household garbage removal, road facilities, preparation and repair of the housing stock", he stressed.
