In the context of financial decentralisation, local self-government has every opportunity to timely and properly prepare for the heating season 2018/2019. The local self-government bodies have a powerful financial resource and heat supply enterprises in hands. So far, we have done a lot to strengthen local self-government in the preparation of critical infrastructure for the heating season. Only over the last year the revenues of local budgets amounted to UAH 192 billion. As of 1 June, local budgets have already amounted to 89 billion in comparison with UAH 72 billion on this day in 2017, emphasised Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services, during a conference call on preparation for the heating season.

He said that UAH 11 billion were envisaged by local government bodies for preparation to the heating season. “At the same time, we see that to prepare critical infrastructure for the winter, local self-government bodies spend only 3% of their development budgets. How can these three percent ensure proper preparation to the heating season?” said Hennadii Zubko. He also noted that current accumulated balances on treasury accounts of local self-government bodies make up UAH 68 billion.

“I am once again emphasising that the start and stable flow of the heating period belong to the scope of responsibility of the local authorities. Municipalities, having all the financial and technical possibilities, are responsible for the timely connection of social and residential facilities to heating. The start and flow of the heating season is an absolutely planned work, which is carried out not in one day or week. It should be systemic and coordinated. In order to enter the heating season, we need communication and coherence of all the bodies, enterprises and services, as well as a clear understanding of their area of ​​responsibility,” said Hennadii Zubko.