More than 105 Billion Dram: Yerevan's 2023 Budget Approved

The Yerevan Council today approved the decision on the approval of the Yerevan development program for 2023. Mayor Hratchya Sargsyan informed that extensive programs will be implemented next year aimed at the renovation of kindergartens, polyclinics, community theaters, expansion of irrigation systems, and the improvement of yards and parks. The municipality will continue to replenish the bus fleet with new vehicles, construct a new transport hub, establish a transport management center, install new bus stops, and replace traffic lights.

In 2023, the construction of a new road on Arshakuniats-Isakov Street is also slated to begin.

In another agenda item, the council discussed and voted on the 2023 budget for Yerevan. Significant funds will be allocated for the implementation of various city projects next year. Specifically, 6 billion 630 million dram is allocated for the renovation of 24 kindergartens, landscaping six kindergarten yards, and completing the renovation of nine kindergartens that commenced in 2022.

The budget will provide 3 billion 21 million dram for the renovation of 69 yard areas, installation of playgrounds, reconstruction of 17 football fields, and for the ongoing repairs and maintenance of yards commissioned in previous years.

For the replacement of elevators, a preliminary fund of 1 billion dram is planned, which will procure around 100 new elevators; however, the municipality aims to increase this budget next year to replace approximately 700 elevators.

For the construction and maintenance of parks, the budget will allocate 720 million 644 thousand dram, with plans to renovate 14 recreation areas and carry out ongoing repairs.

For the reconstruction and renovation of main roads and streets, 404 million 73 thousand dram will be allocated, while 3 billion 494 million dram will be dedicated to the repair and renovation of asphalt coatings.

Next year, the salary fund for pre-school and extracurricular institutions under community jurisdiction will increase by 11.48%. The deputy mayor of Yerevan, who presented the budget decision draft, noted that the city authorities will continue the efforts to digitalize payment systems, which will enhance the quality of services provided to citizens. Levon Hovhannisyan also remarked that the municipality managed to adapt quickly to the shift towards cashless payment methods, evidenced by the nearly 100% collection of this year's revenues.

Through the decision of the council, the procedure for granting property tax and vehicle property tax concessions has been established. According to the procedure, families of those who died, were injured, or went missing during the military operations in Artsakh and the Republic of Armenia, as well as individuals who were confirmed dead or missing, along with first and second group disabled persons, can now benefit from this concession by submitting an application to the mayor's office, attaching copies of documents confirming their status.

Exemptions have also been established for local fees for 2023. Children of deceased servicemen and fallen freedom fighters will be able to study free of charge at Yerevan's extracurricular educational institutions (such as music and art schools), while for children of parents with first or second disability categories, the fee will be set at 4000 dram. Kindergartens will remain free for children whose parents or legal representatives are permanently or actually registered in Yerevan.

The exemption also extends to the families of freedom fighters, fallen freedom fighters, family members of soldiers who died during service, residents without parents, and children of parents with first or second disability categories, as well as children with disabilities. Additionally, children of displaced persons, refugees, or asylum seekers in Armenia can also receive this exemption.

For individuals with mobility difficulties or disabilities, or the transportation of their vehicles, as well as for vehicles exclusively using electric energy and operating solely with electric motors (electric vehicles), a local parking fee exemption will be applicable. To benefit from this exemption, the owner must submit an application to the mayor's office, attaching copies of documents confirming their representative status.

Another decision by the council has established the rates for local taxes and fees for 2023.

The council also approved the action plan for Yerevan for 2023-2024 under the "Local Open Government Partnership" initiative. According to the decision of the Yerevan Council, a monument dedicated to the memory of the victims of the events in Yerevan on March 1, 2008, will be installed in the Children's Park area, enclosed by Zakiyan, Beirut, and St. Gregory the Illuminator Streets.

The next council session will be held on February 14, 2023.