Resources obtained from the decentralization reform, as well as direct and targeted state subventions, are the funds that should be directed, first of all, to paying salaries to budget sector employees, building social and local infrastructure, but not to “fountains and cedar trees”, that are also needed, but not top priority expenditures items. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman on air of the ICTV channel in The Freedom of Speech program.

"Dear colleagues! Pay salaries – we have provided you with financial resource for this", Volodymyr Groysman stressed, appealing to the heads of local authorities. “I see, sometimes there are funds for the fountains and trees, yet no money for salaries? How come? For example, the roads. Next year we will allocate UAH 56 billion to this sector. Out of this amount, UAH 17.7 billion will be disbursed to local roads. This is a huge resource. I say this as a former head of the city state administation.”

Volodymyr Groysman emphasized that it is unacceptable to have debts, while possessing all necessary development tools.

"Some cheeky persons say–  go to the Government, hoping that we will take money from the pensioners, doctors, teachers and solve the problem. No, it will not be so. If some local leaders think they are allowed to not understand people and  not respect them, then there will be an immediate address of the Cabinet of Ministers to the President of Ukraine, and I'm sure that the President will dismiss these leaders from office", the Prime Minister claimed.