Annual Funding for Government Residences Increased by 60 Million Drams

The Armenian government has allocated 602,979,000 drams for the maintenance of government residences and their territories in the 2024 state budget, representing an increase of 60 million drams compared to 2023. This information was reported by Hetq.

According to a contract signed on January 26 between the Prime Minister's Office and the State Non-Commercial Organization 'Management of Government Residences,' the sum of 602,979,000 drams is to be allocated as a grant to the organization. The contract is published on the state procurement platform armeps.am.

It is worth noting that funding for the maintenance of government residences had also increased in 2023 compared to previous years. While the state budgets for 2020, 2021, and 2022 allocated between 450 and 470 million drams for this purpose, in 2023, the budget reached 542 million drams. At that time, a written inquiry was sent to the Prime Minister's Office requesting clarification on the reasons for the increase.

In response to our inquiry, the Prime Minister's Office stated that the increase in funding was linked to the number of positions, the rise in specific salary rates, and an increase in expenses for energy services.

This time, we have sent another written inquiry to the Prime Minister's Office, asking for clarification on why the amount allocated for the maintenance of residences in 2024 has increased by 60 million drams compared to the previous year. We will publish the response once we receive it.

It is reminded that according to the Law on Ensuring the Activities, Maintenance, and Social Guarantees of Officials, a service residence is provided to the President, Prime Minister, Speaker of the National Assembly, and the President of the Constitutional Court in Yerevan. According to the same law, a service residence may also be provided to other high-ranking officials by a decision of the Prime Minister.