Yerevan’s 2023 budget is 105 billion drams (about 275 million dollars). Only 37% of that amount is Yerevan’s income. 41% of the budget of the capital city is supported by the implementation of the powers delegated by the state, 13% is the subsidy, and 7% is the subsidy. Based on this calculation, there is an analysis that “Yerevan’s budget is quite small to solve the problems facing the capital and implement large-scale development projects.
And Yerevan’s revenues are even smaller. Without government participation, funding from the state budget, international support, and creative solutions, it is impossible to make serious changes in Yerevan.”
Meanwhile, the political forces nominated in the elections of the Yerevan Council of Elders announce massive programs in the conditions of such a small budget and even more, they promise that they will make many things free of charge.
To the question of how he imagines that a mayor representing a non-governmental force can fulfill the promises that are being made now under these conditions, the guest of the “Aravot” “Areresum” (“Confrontation”) program, the Chairman of the “Victory” party, the candidate for the Mayor in the elections of the Yerevan Council of Elders Viktor Mnatsakanyan answered: “It will be difficult.” In addition to the solutions to the problem of making public transport free, particularly the revenues brought by parking lots, another source mentioned: “Selling Small Downtown loft permits, we can generate up to $30 million or more a year for the next ten years. I declare myself responsible as a person who worked in the municipality and is responsible for the Center and urban planner; “Unfortunately, today, our city authorities do not take possession of that “sleeping” money.”
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Victor Mnatsakanyan gave an example as proof that inefficient management is being implemented. “About 7 million euro was spent from the city budget of Yerevan. The “Renko” company was commissioned and built the 500-seat, 3-story, 200-dram underground stop under “Freedom” Square, in the case that the price of parking in North Avenue is already 400 drams.
But do you know why it doesn’t work? Because until now, “car wash” is written on the main entrance from Tumanyan Street of the municipal, state property of Yerevan Municipality. I only warned 3-4 times, addressed publicly: people cannot make changes; they don’t feel Yerevan. And do you want this political team to be able to implement reforms?
There are many promises in the pre-election program of the “United Armenia” party, which imply huge costs: “complete reconstruction or strengthening of emergency buildings,” “regulating and reducing the financial obligations of Yerevan residents,” “property tax fines and fines, fines for violating some traffic rules, by banks” amnesty of calculated fines,” “complete reconstruction of Hrazdan gorge, restoration, and modernization of cleaning systems, creation of public swimming pools,” “modernization of the city’s drainage system” and others. In response to the proposal to clarify the “price of the issue” of all this, Yervand Tarverdyan, the Chairman of the “United Armenia” party, the candidate for Mayor in the Yerevan Council of Elders elections, said: “The price of all that is intelligence. It is not my fault that our authorities only see the addition of the state budget through taxes. And they say that it is only possible with the government’s participation.
Can the government bring the money from “his father’s house” to decide whether to give it? Most of that entire budget is provided by Yerevan organizations. Let them not forget that it is not their money; it is the state’s money. And they are also obliged to spend a large part of it on the state’s capital. In addition, we have a provision that an investment fund for the development of Yerevan will be created. It will be a transparent fund; it will be published daily who has invested how much money.”
Yervand Tarverdyan also claimed that he spoke with representatives of several international structures. “They are willing to finance all these projects because they are profitable.”
The entire conversation is in the video
Anna ISRAYELYIAN
