Tbilisi starts 2014 without city budget

Disagreement between the majority and minority was caused by the principle of the budget distribution and priorities defined by the city government.

Agenda.ge, 30 Dec 2013 - 01:01, Tbilisi,Georgia

Tbilisi City Court held the last session of 2013 in the historical building at Freedom Square. However, this could not help with approving the city budget, which is the most important project.

At the Councils plenary session today, the city budget for 2014 was been discussed for several hours. Finally after heated discussions, the budget was supported by 18 delegates, 21 voted against and 3 of them opted not to vote. This means that the council failed to approve the next years budget for the capital city since 24 votes are needed for quorum.

The disagreement between the majority and minority was caused by the principle of the budget distribution, as well as budget priorities defined by the city government.

"You are planning to spend the city budget in favor of your partial interests, the head of the faction Georgian Dream Democratic Georgia, Zaza Gabunia addressed the representatives of city government from United National Movement.

Before voting, the head of the City Council, Irakli Shikhiashvili offered the delegates to postpone the voting on the budget for one month and use this time for improving the shortcomings in it through negotiating with the city government. However, the council decided to vote and failed to approve it. The total budget for the next year being discussed today amounts to 730 million GEL in total (428 Million USD roughly).

Consequently, Tbilisi will meet 2014 without a budget but will have a renovated City Council building.

According to the Chairman of the Legal Commission of the City Council, David Jincharadze, the meetings of the City Council will be held in the renovated building from now on.

The meetings hall and the first wings of the building are already reconstructed. The reconstruction process will be completed at the end of February 2014.

The historical Tbilisi City Council building has been closed for reconstruction since summer 2010. Until today, the City Council was has been holding the sessions at a nearby location on Lermontovi Street.