By George Balafas*
The last budget passed by the right-wing administration of the Region of Attica had two characteristics - negative for citizens and their property, social cohesion, security, the environment.
It specifically reflects the dissolution and bankruptcy that the Patoulis administration has brought to the Region after 3.5 years. The numbers are inexorable and the deficit resulting from the technical programme has soared to 156 million euros. After 3.5 years of right-wing administration, the backlog of signed contracts stands at EUR 290 million and cash reserves at EUR 134 million, so a deficit is appearing. This means that the executable works programme of the Region of Attica is not actually being carried out. We have 18 cancellations of project contracts, with a total budget of EUR 157 million, with 9 major flood protection projects being halted, 7 projects and 5 critical studies being put on hold, and while there are ready studies and projects in areas subject to flooding without there being any progress in the tendering of the projects.
Examples of projects in the Northern Sector of Athens are typical, as even the competent Deputy Regional Governor admitted in her speech. Specifically:
- A stormwater project in Vrilissia, with the study ready, has not been put out to tender.
- The swimming pool in the Frangopoulou triangle in Kifissia, although it is ready, has not been put out to tender.
- The underground parking lot in Nea Ionia, stopped.
- The Town Hall of Agia Paraskevi has stopped.
- The flood protection project in the area of Perissos has been stopped.
And the list is long.
The majority of the projects in the technical programme of the Region of Attica have either simply been entered in the budget without being contracted and tendered (they appear with the symbolic amount of 1000 euros) or they are stalled.
No one and no one fell from the clouds. This is because it is well known that sloppiness and irresponsibility are the hallmarks of the Region's administration. The Region of Attica could have received 339 million euros from the Attica Regional Development Programme so that it would not have reached a budget deficit. And yet it has received only EUR 162 million. Unfortunately, the “new beginning” administration is in fact proving to be the beginning of the end for the technical programme, for the social support programmes for local communities, for the financial adequacy of the Region of Attica.
On the opposite side of the disintegration and bankruptcy that characterize the Patoulis Administration, the Power of Life, this year again, submitted a fully documented and credible alternative budget for the year 2023. A concrete proposal that responds to the challenges facing the Region of Attica in a complex and multiply demanding environment.
Next October, in the local elections, the citizens of Attica will be asked to choose the future of their region. That is, to choose a new democratic, progressive Administration that will be the catalyst for prosperity, democracy, efficiency and social policy, providing solutions to the problems of local communities. Creating new prospects of hope for the daily lives of citizens. All of us!
**Giorgos Balafas is a regional councillor of the Northern Sector of Attica and member of the Central Committee of SYRIZA-PS
