The processes of amalgamation and accession of hromadas in the Vinnytsia Oblast are going on. Cities of oblast significance, including Zhmerynka, have become more active, reported Yevhen Shapovalov, decentralisation adviser of the Vinnytsia Local Government Development Centre of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme, who attended several meetings in hromadas.

Zhmerynka may become the third city of oblast significance that joins adjacent territories. As you know, the cities of Vinnytsia and Khmilnyk have already done this: the urban-type settlement of Desna has joined the oblast centre, and the village of Sokolova has joined the rayon centre.

According to the expert, financial incentive is an important factor for accession. The budgets of the Rivka and Korostiv territorial communities receive considerable funds from the excise tax on fuel sales - UAH 2.4 million and UAH 1.4 million, respectively. Since 2020, this money will be directed to the State Road Fund, so in order to support the activities of kindergartens and settlements, other sources of tax revenue, such as PIT, will come only to the budgets of amalgamated hromadas.

“Joining Zhmerynka is a logical step, as residents of neighbouring hromadas are closely connected and integrated into the life of the city. With the accession of these territories to the city of oblast significance, which has all the necessary executive bodies, the successful practice of attracting grant funds and the implementation of infrastructure projects for rural areas, new opportunities for hromadas development are opening,” Yevheniy Shapovalov emphasised.

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