Lviv deputies allocated 51 million for financial aid despite budget deficit

Lviv City Council has adopted a controversial decision on the 2025 budget. Despite the fact that it was recognized as “the most difficult in all the years” and the shortage of funds for the city’s critical needs, the deputies approved a record amount of UAH 51.2 million for their own financial assistance fund.

Each of the 64 deputies will be able to dispose of 800 thousand hryvnias to help the city’s residents. The increase was initiated by a representative of the European Solidarity party, Volodymyr Hoy, who justified it by the growing number of appeals from citizens, especially military personnel and their families.

The decision caused a mixed reaction both among the MPs themselves and in the media. Petro Adamik defended the initiative, emphasizing the difference between active and passive MPs, while journalist Andriy Kotenskyy criticized the decision, calling it a questionable use of taxpayer funds.

“Dozens of residents come to us not with simple problems, not for daily bread. These problems are often medical. Many of our servicemen and their families come to us – these are the realities of our time. And we have to divide the allocated amount as much as possible. Five years ago, 150 thousand was a completely different amount of money, and what about now? Compared to other cities, Lviv is definitely lagging behind,” said Volodymyr Hoy said.

“For a deputy who does not work, 20 thousand hryvnias is a lot. And for one who is working, 8 million hryvnias is not enough. Let’s not manipulate. Anyone who is ready to refuse, let them refuse [the money] in writing, but I have never met anyone like that,” says Petro Adamyk.

That is, with the money allocated in the Lviv budget for the fulfillment of their deputy powers, community members can pay financial assistance to residents who apply to them.

“Deputies of the Lviv City Council allocated more than UAH 51 million for themselves. Let me clarify. That record amount of taxpayers’ money will be taken to pay deputies financial assistance because they work in extreme conditions. Yes, it is the deputies who will be generous with our money to those in need in extreme conditions. Of course, we can invest that money back into the needs of the community, indeed, give material assistance to needy voters, well, just Robin Hood sunshine… And all of them will convince us that this money is for helping people. After all, who would spend money on some murky or fake things during the war, right?” he wrote on Facebook. жjournalist, editor-in-chief of the Lviv portal Andriy Kotensky wrote on Facebook.

At the same time, the city authorities are planning to take out a one billion hryvnia loan to support the military and have allocated one billion hryvnia to pay salaries to city council employees. These decisions are being made in the face of a significant budget deficit and a difficult economic situation in the city.