The Minister of National Economy and Finance Kostis Hatzidakis explained several interventions related to funding and local government budgets at the annual meeting of the assembly of the union of the towns in the Attica Region (PEDA) on Friday.
The measures are being implemented by the Ministry of the Economy and the Interior.
They include a 36% increase in the main independent funding allocated to cities, compared to 2019. The total amount allocated to cities rose from 1.8 billion euros in 2019 to €2.5 billion now.
A new regular subsidy for all Greek municipalities in 2024 amounted to €145 million, of which almost €36.5 million related to local authorities in the Attica region. Following consultations with the Ministry of the Interior, municipalities will receive €90 million to settle outstanding debts, while around €25 million have already been allocated to municipalities to settle obligations settlement as a result of court ruling.
In addition, there are emergency subsidies of almost €500 million to each municipality of Attica as of 2019, with another €23 million for recent natural disasters and almost €5.7 million for fire protection in 2024.
An increase of 27% in the budget of the Public Investment Program is also expected to cover, among others, projects that municipalities have completed, as well as a plan that allows the debtors of cities and their organizations to pay their obligations with up to 60 installments, together with special provisions for vulnerable debtors.
