Increasing funding is what Municipalities are looking for
Central Union of Greek Municipalities
28 Nov 2022
/ 23:53
CORFU. The introduction of city tax, especially in tourist areas, is extremely important.
The increase in funding for Municipalities and DEYA to cover energy costs (e.g. municipal lighting, municipal buildings, schools) and increased spending, the introduction of city tax, especially for tourist areas, and the issue of extra resources for recruitment of cleaning staff in schools were the most important issues discussed at the three-day annual conference of the Central Union of Greek Municipalities (KEDE) that took place last week in Volos.
The Central Corfu Mayor Meropi Ydraiou informed about its results this morning at a press conference. As she said, the main request remains the increase in resources to enable Municipalities to offer the services they want to their citizens and to be able to extend their operating limits without restrictions. "High prices and inflation that affect every citizen, also affect the Municipality and create adverse effects and a difficult financial situation and thus we cannot develop all activities and functions to the extent we want in order to provide the best services possible," she said.
As she said, in the request for increased funding in order to cover the cost of school heating, a promise was given that it will be subsidised at 100%. As for the school cleaners, some extra funding will be provided so that the cleaning services in schools can be strengthened with extra staff.
City tax
The issue of the return of the withholding tax to the Municipalities was once again highlighted at the conference, as it is a long-standing demand of the local government. Special reference was made to the introduction of city tax, mainly for tourist areas that have both port and airport. "A part of the taxes from the airport, port, airbnb and the tourism sector in general, should go to municipal funds, since the Municipality is the one taking care of cleaning, traffic issues, lighting and public areas," explained Mrs. Ydraiou.
When asked about the new National Waste Management Plan (ESDA), she said that a special KEDE meeting will be held on this issue, while regarding the change of responsibility in the Regions, she pointed out that so far it has been shown that Municipalities should have the key role in the plan's management.
With China's Suzhou Municipality
At the press conference, Mrs. Ydraiou also referred to the second teleconference she had with representatives of China's Suzhou Municipality in order to draw up and sign a memorandum of cooperation with the ultimate goal of twinning between the two Municipalities.
As he said, it is a city that is also a UNESCO monument and is known as the 'Venice of China'. "What attracted their interest was the Corfu International Festival, for which they expressed interest, in order for their Symphony Orchestra, in which the Corfiot musician G. Tsaggarakis is part of, to come here and participate in the festival. I think that this mixing of cultures always brings extroversion and benefit, not only for cultural reasons but also for tourism", she concluded.
The Central Corfu Mayor Meropi Ydraiou informed about its results this morning at a press conference. As she said, the main request remains the increase in resources to enable Municipalities to offer the services they want to their citizens and to be able to extend their operating limits without restrictions. "High prices and inflation that affect every citizen, also affect the Municipality and create adverse effects and a difficult financial situation and thus we cannot develop all activities and functions to the extent we want in order to provide the best services possible," she said.
As she said, in the request for increased funding in order to cover the cost of school heating, a promise was given that it will be subsidised at 100%. As for the school cleaners, some extra funding will be provided so that the cleaning services in schools can be strengthened with extra staff.
City tax
The issue of the return of the withholding tax to the Municipalities was once again highlighted at the conference, as it is a long-standing demand of the local government. Special reference was made to the introduction of city tax, mainly for tourist areas that have both port and airport. "A part of the taxes from the airport, port, airbnb and the tourism sector in general, should go to municipal funds, since the Municipality is the one taking care of cleaning, traffic issues, lighting and public areas," explained Mrs. Ydraiou.
When asked about the new National Waste Management Plan (ESDA), she said that a special KEDE meeting will be held on this issue, while regarding the change of responsibility in the Regions, she pointed out that so far it has been shown that Municipalities should have the key role in the plan's management.
With China's Suzhou Municipality
At the press conference, Mrs. Ydraiou also referred to the second teleconference she had with representatives of China's Suzhou Municipality in order to draw up and sign a memorandum of cooperation with the ultimate goal of twinning between the two Municipalities.
As he said, it is a city that is also a UNESCO monument and is known as the 'Venice of China'. "What attracted their interest was the Corfu International Festival, for which they expressed interest, in order for their Symphony Orchestra, in which the Corfiot musician G. Tsaggarakis is part of, to come here and participate in the festival. I think that this mixing of cultures always brings extroversion and benefit, not only for cultural reasons but also for tourism", she concluded.
