Newly-established District Councils should prepare their first budgets for the second half of the year by May 27, Finance Ministry has said in a circular.
The circular was dispatched one month ahead of the June 9 local elections from which the presidents of the five District Councils will emerge and will assume the administration of the organisations which will integrate local services such as water and sewage boards and planning permits. The reform of the Cyprus Local Authorities System kicks in on July 1, featuring a reduced number of Municipalities and District Councils, as well as local community clustering.
Furthermore, the Finance Ministry called on local communities and community clusters to submit their budgets for the second half of the year until May 24 the latest.
The state subsidy for the communities totalling 286, ie those not merged with Municipalities, amounts to pound 5.56 million for the second half of the year.
The Ministry called on both District Councils, Communities and Community Clus
ters to prepare a balanced budget.
In view of the implementation of the reform in the local government, the Finance Ministry called for the preparation of two separate budgets one for the first half of the year and one for the second half which will encompass the reform which begins on July 1 2024.
Source: Cyprus News Agency