Hennadii Zubko: Local authorities have every opportunity to provide citizens qualitative services

Local budgets revenues have increased to 31 billion hryvnias in the first nine months this year. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, local budget earnings made up 50% of the total state budget. The financial sufficiency of local authorities gives them the opportunity to provide citizens qualitative services. This was stated by Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko in the course of the conference call dedicated to the passing of the heating season.

«Today, some local governments might be tempted to save on housing and communal services, which should be provided to the citizens. The issue at stake is they may try to prepare the communal systems for the heating season later, in order to provide heating not as scheduled. I emphasize the law obliges you to connect households to the heating system in a timely manner. If the temperature outside decreases, you need to kick off this process, regardless of whether you want to save or not. Sick children at the expense of resource saving is a crime», the Vice Prime Minister stressed, while appealing to representatives of local authorities.

Hennadii Zubko recalled that social objects, inter alia schools, kindergartens, and hospitals ought to be connected to the heating system if the temperature in the premises decreases to 16 degrees, and residential buildings are to be connected within three days if the temperature outside is below 8 degrees. «Regional state administrations, having the appropriate functions of state control, should monitor and respond promptly to such situations», he underscored.