Ahmet Savaşan New regulations will increase municipal resources and control

Prime Minister Unal Üstel’The National Unity Party (UBP) MP pointed out that a very important progress was made in the reform process that started with the unification of the municipalities as a result of the determined stance of the President of the Republic of Turkey and the political will of the MPs supporting the coalition government, with the enactment of the Municipalities Amendment Law No. 51/95 yesterday. Ahmet Savaşan, Savaşan underlined that the law will strengthen the financial structures of municipalities and increase their administrative capacities. Savaşan pointed out that with the amendment, the resources provided to the municipalities will be used more effectively and for the benefit of the public and that the accountability responsibilities of the mayors have also been increased.

“ITS VALUE WILL BE UNDERSTOOD MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY”

Explaining that the Law on Municipalities (51/95), which could not be amended despite the need for radical change for many years, has been amended despite all the speculations and obstruction attempts since the beginning of the reform process Ahmet Savaşan, “The reform of the municipalities is an important action of the government established under the Prime Ministry of the UBP, and it is a great achievement whose value will be better understood day by day in terms of the benefit of our people and the sustainability of the municipalities”.

“THE LAW HAS REACHED A GOOD POINT WITH AN UNDERSTANDING OF PARTICIPATION”

Stating that although the main opposition party CTP opposed 2 articles of the law and prevented the unanimous passage of the law, UBP MPs as well as CTP committee members and MPs from other parties made important contributions to the committee work Ahmet Savaşan, He pointed out that all members of the committee worked almost all working days of the week until yesterday, without taking summer vacations. He thanked the representatives of the Ministries and the Union of Municipalities, the Mayors and representatives of the Municipalities, the trade unions and all stakeholders and the parliamentary staff for their selfless work. Ahmet Savaşan, said that the law has come to a good point with the understanding of participation.

“MUNICIPAL REVENUES WILL INCREASE THANKS TO THE POOL SYSTEM”

Stating that the revenues will be distributed fairly to the municipalities thanks to the pool created in the new law, Savaşan said, “Thanks to the pool system, approximately 120 million TL obtained from casinos, Ercan Airport and fuel oil entering the country will be distributed to 18 municipalities (60 percent to the municipality providing on-site services and 40 percent to other municipalities in proportion to their population).”.

“STATE CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE BASED ON BOTH POPULATION AND AREA”

Stating that the state contributions to municipalities will be based not only on the population criterion but also on the surface area criterion with the new regulation Ahmet Savaşan, He said that the contributions were based on 85 percent population and 15 percent surface area criteria. Explaining that from now on, municipalities will receive their contributions not based on the 2011 census, but on the projected population announced by the Statistical Institute until the MAKS system is implemented, Savaşan said, “As of today, municipalities that receive contributions over the 2011 population, i.e. 282 thousand, will now receive contributions over the 2021 projection population, i.e. 400 thousand.”.

“RESOURCES WILL BE USED RATIONALLY THANKS TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN OBLIGATION”

Underlining that municipalities are also obliged to make Strategic Plans and Programs Ahmet Savaşan, The Ministry said that in this way, rational use of resources will be ensured and performance will increase and the development of corporate culture and identity will be supported.

“EMPLOYMENT QUOTA WILL NOT EXCEED 55 PERCENT OF THE BUDGET’

Explaining that the law also imposes important limitations on employment, which stands out as the most important factor in the failure of municipalities Ahmet Savaşan, emphasized that, thanks to the regulations, the employment rate of municipalities will not exceed 55 percent of their budgets.

“MUNICIPALITIES AUTHORIZED TO BUILD SOCIAL HOUSING”

Noting that the new law also gives municipalities the opportunity to build social housing Ahmet Savaşan, In terms of deterrence, he said that municipalities were given serious sanctioning powers on crimes and penalties.

“MUKHTARS WILL BE MORE ACTIVE”

Stating that municipalities will be obliged to take the opinions of mukhtars on the projects they plan to carry out Ahmet Savaşan,He expressed his belief that the principle of decentralization will be strengthened thanks to this right granted to mukhtars.

“A SEPARATE OVERSIGHT MECHANISM FOR MAYORS ESTABLISHED”

Pointing out that the new law establishes a separate audit mechanism for the position of Mayor and also increases the powers of municipal council members, Savaşan said, “From now on, mayors will be obliged to have independent auditors prepare 3 and 6-month financial reports. In addition, there will be an obligation to share the monthly realized income and expenses with the municipal councils every month, and the financial reports with the internal affairs, finance and the Court of Accounts periodically.”.

“MUNICIPALITIES WILL NOT BE ABLE TO TRANSFER FUNDS TO COMPANIES FROM THEIR BUDGETS”

Explaining that important regulations have also been made in the law regarding the companies that serve as subsidiary organizations of municipalities Ahmet Savaşan, Savaşan said that municipalities will not be able to make transfers from municipal budget items, except for establishment expenses and establishment capital expenses, to companies in which municipalities are shareholders and/or partners, which have established revolving fund organizations or have participated in established enterprises and limited and cooperative partnerships. Savaşan also said that companies and revolving funds will also be audited by the Court of Accounts under the new law.

“MUNICIPALITIES WILL ILLUMINATE STREETS AND AVENUES”

Stating that the law also includes important regulations on street lighting, which could not be brought to the desired level due to the confusion of authority, Savaşan emphasized that from now on, maintenance, repair, maintenance services and lighting infrastructures of squares, monuments, streets and avenues, including main roads, circles, children's playgrounds; sports fields and facilities; parks, gardens and green areas; picnic viewing and promenade areas will be carried out by municipalities.

“MUNICIPALITIES AUTHORIZED TO ESTABLISH PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEMS”

Explaining that each municipality shall have the right to establish partnerships or cooperatives or to participate in partnerships established or to be established for the purpose of establishing and operating all kinds of public transportation systems with the relevant municipalities or non-municipal organizations within or between municipalities Ahmet Savaşan,He said that with the new law, all municipalities have been given the authority to seal illegal buildings and constructions.

“POWERS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF MUNICIPALITIES AND SERVICE FEES UPDATED”

Explaining that the powers and responsibilities of outdated municipalities have also been updated Ahmet Savaşan, He also stated that the lower and upper limits of the taxes related to the services provided by the municipalities to the public were indexed to the minimum wage, and the authority to set prices was given to the municipal councils.

“MUNICIPAL ADVISORY AND AESTHETIC BOARD TO BE ESTABLISHED”

Stating that the new law allows municipalities to express their views on zoning Ahmet Savaşan, He said that a Municipal Advisory and Aesthetics Board will be established in each municipality in order to better implement the duties of municipalities regarding the country's development vision and to improve municipal services in the country in general.

“THE MINISTRY WILL BE ABLE TO COLLECT HOUSEHOLD WASTE IN CASES OF NECESSITY”

Explaining that if any municipality fails to collect domestic waste for any reason and the situation reaches a level that endangers the environment and public health or adversely affects the quality of life of the society, the relevant Ministry can ensure the disposal of waste in cooperation with the Union of Municipalities Ahmet Savaşan, said that with the new law, municipalities can also create waste transfer stations.